Sabre Corporation, a leading software and technology provider for the global travel industry, has announced an enhanced distribution agreement with LATAM Airlines Group. Through this agreement, Sabre-connected agencies will have long-term access to LATAM’s traditional and NDC (New Distribution Capability) content through the Sabre GDS (Global Distribution System). This partnership makes Sabre the first GDS to establish this type of agreement with LATAM.
LATAM and Sabre are actively working together to launch LATAM’s NDC offerings in the Sabre travel market. The implementation of LATAM’s NDC content into the Sabre GDS is scheduled for the first half of 2024, with a specific go-live date to be shared later. Once the connection is active, hundreds of thousands of Sabre-connected agencies and travel buyers will have access to a wider range of products and offers from LATAM. Travel agents will be able to shop, book, and manage LATAM’s NDC and EDIFACT (Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce, and Transport) offers through Sabre’s offer and order APIs, the Sabre Red 360 point-of-sale tool, and the GetThere corporate booking solution.
Andreas Schek, Vice-President of Sales and Brand at LATAM Airlines Group, expressed his satisfaction with the agreement, stating that LATAM is continuously expanding distribution options for travel agencies. The partnership with Sabre not only covers EDIFACT content but also NDC by LATAM, providing additional options for travel agents to access LATAM’s NDC content.
This long-term partnership ensures global distribution through the Sabre GDS. Sabre-connected travel agents will be able to efficiently purchase and compare increasingly sophisticated offers while offering travelers more options and transparency.
Sabre powers a rapidly expanding travel content marketplace, allowing airlines to effectively market their fares and offers through its network of agencies and corporations worldwide.
Chris Wilding, Senior Vice President of Sales Strategy at Sabre Travel Solutions, highlighted the commitment to driving travel retail in Latin America and meeting the unique needs of its airline clients and travel buyer partners. He emphasized the long-standing partnership of over 20 years between LATAM and Sabre, which focuses on innovation and continuous efforts to enhance the booking experience and advance the adoption of offer and order-based travel retail.
Once activated, LATAM will join 15 other airlines that already have their NDC content available in over 150 markets through Sabre.
In 2018, LATAM Airlines Group implemented Sabre technology to unify two separate booking systems across its combined airlines. The system, powered by SabreSonic Passenger Service System (PSS), has streamlined operations for LATAM.
LATAM Airlines Group is the largest airline in Latin America, operating in five domestic markets (Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru) as well as international flights within the region and to Europe, Australasia, the United States, and the Caribbean.