Sabre has this week announced its third-quarter results and they look pretty healthy, despite a small fall in its share of airline bookings.
The company's Travel Network division reported increased revenues of 8.6% for the quarter, comfortably ahead of the 3.3% increase in actual bookings.
Sean Menke, Sabre president and CEO, said, "We executed well this quarter with renewed focus and better organisational alignment and, as a result, delivered solid growth and profitability. For the third quarter, Airline and Hospitality Solutions grew 4.8%, supported by 7.7% passengers boarded growth on a consistent carrier basis and Hospitality Solutions growth in the mid-teens. Travel Network revenue increased 8.6% supported by bookings growth in higher value markets, like EMEA, and growth in Asia-Pacific as we ramp up our implementation at a key agency customer."
However, the company reported that air booking share fell from 37.3% to 36.5% for the quarter, despite a 16.0% growth in EMEA bookings and 10.8% in Asia Pacific.
The company's revenue is split between its travel network (GDS) business and technology solutions for airlines and hotels. The contribution to revenues from the GDS business has dropped slightly but its contribution to earnings has also increased.
Sabre's results come at a time when it is under pressure to follow Amadeus' lead in allowing bookings that bypass distribution surcharges introduced by British Airways and Iberia.
BCD Travel is the latest TMC to announce it has reached an agreement with the two airlines to avoid the surcharge.
The TMC said, "BCD is committed to ensuring that companies retain the benefits of traditional distribution channels and will continue exploring the option of GDSs providing a viable NDC solution. One of the three GDSs [ed: Amadeus] has supported this arrangement which will allow BA and IB to waive the DTC for bookings made through this GDS from 1 November. BCD is now confident that similar support will be forthcoming from the other two major GDSs."
It may take several quarters before the effects of any such move are seen.