easyJet partners with Sabre to drive ancillary sales strategy

-- Low-fare search shopping, fares & bags, allocated seating

LONDON, Oct. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Sabre Travel Network, a global technology company, and easyJet, the UK's largest airline and operator of Europe's largest air transport network, have partnered to advance the airline's merchandising strategy through the Sabre travel marketplace.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20131007/LA92598)
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130205/LA54136LOGO)

From today, Sabre-connected travel agents can now select and pay for specific seats at the same time as they make a flight booking for their customers. This means agents no longer have to visit the easyJet website to select a seat after the fare has been bought in Sabre.

Furthermore, in addition to scheduled fares and availability, agents can now also shop and book easyJet fares when performing low-fare searches for the cheapest possible itineraries. Sabre's low-fare search allows agents to find the cheapest fares across a broad range of dates, giving travellers more options and choices. They will also be able to shop fares and bags together in a single request.

Harald Eisenaecher, senior vice president for Sabre EMEA, said: "These latest enhancements are great news for all agencies connected to the Sabre travel marketplace. Online and traditional agencies, and the corporations and travellers they serve, will reap the benefits of being able to shop easyJet's fares and bags in one request.

"The ability to shop, book and pay for seats at the point of sale is also a huge step forward. It will save agents time, make agencies more efficient, and mean travellers receive even better levels of service.

"We recognise how important the agency channel is for easyJet, and by providing these new options in our marketplace we remain focused on helping it reach its targets."

Andrew Hodges, easyJet's director of sales, distribution & business, said: "Over the last few years one of easyJet's primary goals has been to grow its share of the managed corporate travel sector. By developing our relationship with Sabre we are taking another important step towards fulfilling that ambition.

"easyJet's core objective is to make travel easy and affordable for all travellers, and we know that corporations and travel management companies (TMCs) will derive excellent value by being able to book our fares and ancillaries through Sabre's travel marketplace."

easyJet is one of numerous airlines to partner with Sabre to drive their merchandising efforts through the Sabre travel marketplace.

Sabre Travel Network provides technology services to the travel industry. It operates the world's largest travel marketplace, connecting travel buyers and sellers through the Sabre global distribution system (GDS).  Its innovative technology connects 370,000 travel agents to more than 400 airlines, 125,000 hotels, 27 car rental brands, 50 rail providers, 14 cruise lines and other global travel suppliers. More than $100 billion of travel is purchased through this marketplace annually. 

Sabre Travel Network is part of Sabre Holdings, a global travel technology company serving the world's largest industry- travel and tourism.  For more information please visit: www.sabretravelnetwork.com.

easyJet operates Europe's No. 1 air transport network with a leading presence on Europe's top 100 routes and at Europe's 50 largest airports.

easyJet flies over 200 aircraft on more than 600 routes between over 130 airports in 30 countries. More than 300 million Europeans live within one hour's drive of an easyJet airport, more than any other airline.

The airline takes sustainability seriously. easyJet invests in the latest technology, operates efficiently and fills most of its seats which means that an easyJet passenger's carbon footprint is 22% less than a passenger on a traditional airline, flying the same aircraft on the same route.

MEDIA CONTACT
Martin Ferguson
Sabre Holdings
Tel: +44 20 8538 8576
Mob: +44 7740 409 440
martin.ferguson@sabre.com