In a significant move for the travel distribution landscape, the successful activation of _yoast_wpseo_focuskw provides travel management companies (TMCs) and corporate agencies with direct access to All Nippon Airways’ (ANA) enriched New Distribution Capability (NDC) content through Sabre. This landmark _yoast_wpseo_focuskw marks a pivotal step in modernizing airfare retailing and expands the availability of dynamic offers within the Sabre global distribution system (GDS).
What This Partnership Means for Travel Agencies
The integration of ANA’s NDC-sourced offers into Sabre’s marketplace delivers immediate, tangible benefits for travel professionals. Sabre-connected agencies in designated go-live markets can now seamlessly shop, book, and service ANA’s content without disrupting established workflows. This development eliminates the need for separate direct-connect platforms or cumbersome workarounds, centralizing the booking process within a familiar GDS environment.
Key Advantages for Sabre-Connected Agencies:
- Unified Workflow: Access and manage ANA’s NDC offers directly through Sabre Red 360, Sabre APIs, and the GetThere online booking tool.
- Enhanced Content Access: Shop a wider range of fares and ancillary products, including those exclusively available through ANA’s NDC channel.
- Improved Efficiency: Streamline booking and servicing processes, from initial search to post-ticketing modifications, within a single platform.
- Consistent Servicing: Maintain high levels of customer service with the ability to manage cancellations, exchanges, and voids consistently.
The Strategic Importance of Modern Airline Retailing
This collaboration underscores the broader industry shift towards NDC as a standard for airline distribution. By leveraging modern technology, airlines can move beyond traditional fare filing and create more dynamic, personalized offers that better serve the needs of corporate travelers.
According to Keiji Omae, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and Sales at ANA, this partnership is a crucial component of the airline’s strategy to provide a more robust and customized travel experience. For Sabre, it represents a continued commitment to its “NDC-IT” program, focused on scaling its NDC capabilities and delivering long-term value to its agency partners. Kathy Morgan, Vice President of Product Management at Sabre Travel Solutions, highlighted the importance of providing agencies with a scalable solution that ensures seamless access to critical air content.
Integration Features and Capabilities
The implementation provides a comprehensive set of tools for TMCs to effectively manage corporate travel programs. The integration is designed to support the end-to-end journey of a corporate booking.
- Shopping and Booking: Agents can compare and book ANA’s NDC fares alongside traditional content, ensuring access to the best possible offers.
- Branded Fares and Ancillaries: The system supports detailed product information, allowing for the sale of specific branded fares and additional services.
- Post-Ticketing Management: Full servicing capabilities are enabled, ensuring agents can manage changes and disruptions efficiently within the Sabre ecosystem.
This move positions All Nippon Airways alongside other major carriers that have embraced a multi-GDS approach to NDC distribution, having previously made its content available through other GDS providers. By expanding its partnership to include Sabre, ANA ensures its offerings are accessible to a wider network of corporate travel buyers, reinforcing the GDS’s vital role in the future of airline distribution.
