Oman Air has named Sabre as its preferred global distribution system (GDS) as part of a marketing agreement signed last week by the airline and Sabre Travel Network. This will allow Oman Air to promote and support Sabre as its preferred GDS through joint sales and marketing activities in Oman and beyond.
As part of the agreement, Oman Air has upgraded to Sabre's Direct Connect Availability (DCA), the highest level of connectivity in the Sabre system. This means that Sabre Connected travel agencies will benefit from full access to Oman Air's fares and will have real-time access to the carrier's inventory.
"This agreement with Oman Air is the latest initiative that proves our commitment to strengthen our position in the market and deliver more value to our customers. We are extremely proud to be recognised as the preferred GDS of one of the most successful airlines of the region, and look forward to a rewarding long-term relationship," Daniel Naoumovitch, chief executive officer of Sabre Travel Network Middle East, said.
In addition to the above agreement, Sabre Connected travel agents will now be able to issue electronic tickets for travel on Oman Air.
"Oman Air has worked closely with Sabre Travel Network's sister company, Sabre Airline Solutions, to bring itself up to speed with IATA's e-ticketing requirements and we were one of the first to use Sabre's electronic ticketing hub to streamline our e-ticketing initiative. We are currently targeting to achieve 100 percent e-ticketing implementation by the end of 2006, a year earlier than the end of 2007, IATA's target date for the end of paper ticketing," Ziad Al Haremi, acting chief executive officer of Oman Air, said. "Through e-ticketing, Oman Air expects to reduce its distribution costs by approximately 40 percent in Oman, and around 30 percent in the region. This will be an added incentive for our travel agent shareholders to support bookings through the Sabre system."
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About Oman Air
Since its establishment in 1993 as a regional carrier, Oman Air has witnessed tremendous expansions both in structure and performance. It played a fundamental role in promoting air transport to and from the Sultanate of Oman, where the numbers of multicultural passengers increased during the years, and consequently recognized Oman Air, as one of the paramount regional airlines. Oman Air has now become fully prepared, and determined to go into the future with a modern vision.
Oman Air, Oman's national carrier is currently operating 10 aircraft, 6 out of which are the new Generation Boeing 737- 800 and 700. This modern fleet reaches many important cities in the Gulf, the Middle East regions and the Indian sub-continent. It flies to Muscat, Salalah, Khasab, Bahrain, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Mumbai, Thiruvananthapuram, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad, Delhi, Cairo and Beirut.
About Sabre Travel NetworkSabre Travel Network, a Sabre Holdings company, provides access to the world's leading global distribution system (GDS). The Sabre GDS is a ready-built efficient marketplace that connects suppliers, including hundreds of airlines and thousands of hotels, with more than 50,000 travel agency locations. Suppliers get access through one single connection; travel agents get real time access to thousands of travel products from multiple suppliers through one source integrated into their businesses; consumers get access to a global supermarket of the world's greatest travel possibilities.
Key brands of Sabre Travel Network include GetThere, the leading Web-based corporate travel reservation technology, and Jurni Network, the unique leisure travel agency consortium in the United States that enables members to sell more products from preferred travel suppliers using sophisticated market intelligence.
Sabre Holdings (NYSE: TSG) connects people with the world's greatest travel possibilities by retailing travel products and providing distribution and technology solutions for the travel industry. More information about Sabre Holdings is available at http://www.sabre-holdings.com.
Alison Jones
Marketing Manager
Sabre Travel Network Middle East
Alison.jones@sabre.com
+ 973 36304814
+ 973 17201017
© Press Release 2006
