Sabre has introduced a tool that allows travel management companies to provide their corporate clients with reporting on the carbon-dioxide emissions for each flight they book.
Called the Greenhouse Emissions report, it is compatible with both Turbo Sabre and MySabre, the two booking tools connecting travel agents to Sabre's global distribution system. Sabre agents can use the tool globally, but it was developed at the request of Swedish travel agencies that were asked by corporate clients to provide emission reporting.
Each report is divided into four sections detailing the number of air segments booked over a given period, distance flown, the relative amount of fuel burned expressed in kilograms and litres, the relative number of kilograms of CO2 produced as a result and a breakdown of the other greenhouse gasses produced. Sabre can prepare the reports by department, cost center, segment type or date.
An increasing number of companies in Europe are tracking the emissions caused by their business travel
(BTN, Dec. 5, 2005). They are reproducing the information in corporate social responsibility reports and in some cases are seeking to reduce their emissions through reduced travel, switching to rail or investing in carbon offset schemes. There are signs of nascent interest in the subject among travel managers in the United States
(BTN, May 15).
Sabre said "emission levels may vary for the same flight on different days. Variable parameters include an aircraft's load, flight profile, the external temperature, winds and engine or aircraft characteristics."
American Express and the U.K. travel management company Portman Travel have launched similar reporting tools for their clients. HRG also has carried out emissions tracking for clients in Scandinavia.