New agreement offers seamless integration of passenger service solutions aimed at faster and efficient customer service

Manama, Bahrain, 30 October 2011: Bahrain's national carrier Gulf Air has renewed its contract with Sabre Airline Solutions, the airline's long time business partner providing passenger service solutions, for a new reservations system software package.

A new multi-year contract for the SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service (CSS) suite of products was signed today at the airline's Muharraq headquarters between Gulf Air's Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Samer Majali, and Sabre Airlines Solutions' General Manager for Middle East and Africa, Mr. Maher Koubaa.

Mr. Majali said, "The renewal of Sabre Airline Solutions' contract demonstrates the decades-long relationship between the two travel industry leaders. We believe that the new suite of products offered by Sabre not only meet the current needs of Gulf Air but also support the airline's future growth plans. Our ultimate aim is to provide a seamless travel experience to our customers while achieving cost efficiency and better management of our internal passenger service systems. We look forward to continuing working with Sabre."

Mr. Koubaa commented, "Gulf Air is a valued customer and we are committed to continue providing it with the industry's most comprehensive passenger service solutions and tools across its operations. The SabreSonic CSS suite of products is based on a fully-flexible technology platform that will help Gulf Air customize its products to support its present and future business plans."

The SabreSonic CSS suite is a wide-ranging passenger service solution that offers end-to-end, fully integrated customer service solutions - from check-in facilities, reservations, ticketing, departure control and load planning - enabling Gulf Air to deliver an enhanced travel experience to its customers.

Dr. Jassim Haji, Gulf Air's Director of Information Technology added, "We have chosen to renew our agreement with Sabre not only based on their past service to us but also after careful evaluation of the how the new product's capabilities will fit in with our overall business strategy.

While the SabreSonic CSS suite ensures a consistent, seamless experience for the customer from the beginning to the end of their journey such as booking, ticketing, online and offline check in, and seat selection, its inventory and reservations management capabilities allow Gulf Air for better revenue management across every channel of distribution in addition to comprehensive reporting and analysis."

The new suite of products will be installed across Gulf Air's entire network beginning with Bahrain headquarters.

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About Gulf Air

Founded in 1950, Gulf Air is the proud national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain. As a pioneering airline in the Middle East region with sixty one years of experience and expertise in flying people across continents, Gulf Air is today one of the most powerful brands and a name to reckon with in the global aviation industry.

One of the prime objectives of Gulf Air is to connect Bahrain to the Middle East countries and the rest of the world. As such the airline currently operates the largest network in the Middle East with non-stop flights while providing seamless onward connections to other international destinations. The airline's current network stretches from Europe to Asia, connecting 51 cities in 33 countries, with a fleet of 35 aircraft. 

In tune with the Kingdom's economic blue print, 'Vision 2030', Gulf Air's strategy is to build an efficient, commercially sustainable and dynamic airline that effectively serves the people and the economy of Bahrain and represents the Kingdom on the world stage. Reflecting the needs and aspirations of its customers, the strategy focuses on three core areas: a targeted, more focused international network, a superior, more consistent product and a modern, more efficient fleet that will optimize value. However, Gulf Air's goal remains unchanged; its commitment to the latest aviation technology complemented by its hallmark Arabian hospitality for which the airline is well known.   

For more information please visit www.gulfair.com

For media enquiries, please contact:
Katherine Kaczynska
Senior Manager Corporate Communications
Gulf Air Tel: +973 17338416 - +973 36500292
Email: katherine.kaczynska@gulfair.com

© Press Release 2011