Sabre Airline Solutions today announced the launch of some components of a new airline revenue and passenger management IT platform that enables carriers to control new selling and merchandizing strategies, like ancillary and unbundled services and myriad fare categories, and deliver unbundled content to its distribution channels.
SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service also provides individualized passenger data so airlines can better identify frequent flyers and valued customers. For example, airlines can offer relevant upgrades, services or seat availability on sold-out flights to travelers based on frequent flyer status, said Sabre Airline Solutions senior vice president of passenger solutions Jim Barlow.
In addition, more real-time data transfer capabilities provide indirect and direct distribution channels, including global distribution systems, online booking tools and direct connects, with more up-to-date schedule changes, fare actions and re-accommodation offerings to travelers in instances of delays or bad weather.
In April, Amadeus unveiled its new retailing platform with its Altéa solution, which currently provides airlines, such as United Airlines and Singapore Airlines, with similar capabilities
(BTNonline, April 3).
The new Sabre system integrates several of the one-off unbundling solutions Sabre recently has built for carrier initiatives like Midwest Airlines' Signature seat upselling
(BTNonline, July 21), Qantas Airways' branded fare structures and Brazil's Gol Intelligent Airlines' one-way restricted fare displays and processing.
SabreSonic CSS' development began more than a year ago and additional capabilities will be introduced in the next three years, said Barlow, adding that the project has cost hundreds of millions of dollars.
"This is the first time Sabre has put such a big emphasis on the airline reservations or direct distribution piece," Barlow said. "This benefits all channels, but it's a very strong signal of how much that business is valued here."
SabreSonic CSS was built on top of its predecessor SabreSonic technology, which was launched five years ago and is used by more than 100 airlines, and is designed to allow carriers to integrate some components with existing IT host systems.