Etihad Airways has agreed a billion US dollar 10-year deal with Sabre Airline Solutions, the carrier announced this morning.
The deal will see the airline integrate Sabre technology across all facets of its business including reservations, inventory, marketing, planning, eCommerce, distribution and departure control operations.
Due to be in place by February 13, it was claimed the technology will “significantly reduce the airline’s technology costs while streamlining processes considerably”.
The agreement also includes a multi-year full content arrangement, meaning Eithad fares and schedules will be available to travel agents through the Sabre GDS.
Etihad Airways chief executive officer James Hogan said: “This groundbreaking deal will play a pivotal role in providing Etihad Airways with the tools necessary to achieve its next phase of growth and profitability targets in an innovative, sustainable and cost effective manner.
“It will be the single largest technology-enabled business change that Etihad Airways will undertake in a decade.
“Sabre came to us with a world-class product that we believe will help us increase revenues but also take our outstanding customer service to another level.
“This integrated approach not only gives us cost certainty, but creates efficiencies of scale. We are fortunate to be in a position, unlike legacy carriers, to be able to implement this software across the board.”
Sam Gilliland, Sabre chairman and chief executive, said: “Etihad Airways is a premier airline in a growing and dynamic part of the world. We are privileged to work with a visionary carrier that will greatly benefit from Sabre’s best-in-class technology, which will provide the airline with the flexibility to adapt to the constantly changing travel marketplace.”
“We very much look forward to working with Etihad Airways as it grows over the next ten years to become one of the largest airlines in the world. The technology we will provide will facilitate this growth considerably.”
Sabre Airline Solutions provides IT services to more than 300 airlines and 100 airports around the world. More than 300 million passengers a year are processed by airlines using its technology.