Sabre inks deal with Flybe

Sabre Corporation has started selling ancillaries for Flybe using industry technology standards developed by ATPCo and IATA.

The new capability means agents can now shop and book the carrier’s ancillary services – such as bags, carriage of sports equipment and unaccompanied travel – at the same time they book airfares in the GDS.

Harald Eisenaecher, Senior Vice President, Sabre Travel Network, Europe, Middle East and Africa said: “Flybe is an important customer for Sabre, and the sale of ancillaries is an increasingly valuable revenue stream for airlines.  Sabre has spent many years developing effective solutions for airlines that provide a simple platform through which they can merchandise these products and services.  Our latest merchandising technology enables the sale of ancillaries through rich media directly into the travel agency workflow, resulting in increased efficiency and substantial savings for both airlines and agents.”

Flybe has chosen to sell its ancillary products using industry technology standards developed by ATPCo and IATA through Sabre. The electronic miscellaneous document (EMD) allows an agent to efficiently purchase an airline’s ancillary products on behalf of customers in the same way they would a base airfare.

Phillip Delaney, Flybe’s Director of Sales and Distribution, said: “Sabre’s new solutions make it simpler for agents to purchase our ancillaries. Its travel marketplace lets us market and sell our products and ancillary services the way we want, and helps generate much needed new revenue streams.”

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, joins a growing list of airlines, including Air France-KLM, British Airways, Qantas, Virgin Australia, Etihad, Finnair, Air New Zealand, Alitalia, Brussels Airlines, Aegean, Aeromexico, easyJet, Lufthansa, United and US Airways, which have chosen to offer ancillary services and bundled fares through Sabre’s travel marketplace.