Following a similar agreement with Galileo, British Airways (BA) has reached a new three-year full content arrangement with Sabre Travel Network, which will see the airline's fares and inventory made available to all Sabre connected travel agents worldwide.
Competing GDS (global distribution systems) operators Amadeus and Worldspan, do not yet have an arrangement with BA, as the airline was thought to be concentrating initially on distributors focused on the business travel market.
BA has guaranteed its full range of fares to Sabre customers, including published rates that the airline sells through its own website, any third-party web sites, and its own reservation offices. Sabre agents in the UK and Ireland will be required to join a new opt-in programme to access these fares.
Tiffany Hall, BA”s head of marketing and distribution, said: "The Sabre GDS is an important part of our overall marketing strategy. We are delighted to have reached an agreement with Sabre Travel Network that meets the needs of all parties involved and we look forward to working with them during the next three years."
Sabre Travel Network's senior vice-president, EMEA, Richard Adams, commented: "Our travel agency customers have repeatedly told us that their priority requirements from us are full content, access to the lowest basic fares, and long-term airline deals that guarantee stability in terms of preserving the efficiency of the GDS.”