Sabre wins billion dollar contract

Etihad Airways has signed a “ground-breaking” ten-year deal with Sabre Airline Solutions.

The agreement will see Sabre provide integrated reservations, inventory, marketing, planning e-commerce and departure control software.

Valued at more than $1 billion, the deal also includes a “multi-year” full-content distribution agreement, the length of which has not been revealed.

According to James Hogn, Etihad's CEO, the deal will mean “significantly” reduced technology costs for the airline.

He 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.”

By taking an integrated approach to its technology needs, Etihad is able to create “efficiencies of scale”, added Hogan.

“We are fortunate to be in a position, unlike legacy carriers, to be able to implement this software across the board.”

Sam Gilliland, Sabre's CEO, said the technology included in the deal will provide Etihad with “the flexibility to adapt to the constantly changing travel marketplace”.

He said: “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.”