Lufthansa Signs New Distribution Agreement with Sabre

(17 Dec 2020)
Lufthansa has signed a new distribution agreement with
Sabre.

Under the deal – which covers Austrian Airlines,
Lufthansa, SWISS, Air Dolomiti and Brussels Airlines – Sabre will
not only continue to distribute Lufthansa Group airlines’ content
through its GDS but also via the New Distribution Capability (NDC)
standard in the Sabre travel marketplace.

After the planned launch next year, the
diversified NDC program will give Sabre-connected travel agencies
globally the ability to access Lufthansa Group airlines’ content
through the Sabre marketplace and by signing up to one of the two
available commercial models for NDC.

The agreement supports Lufthansa Group airlines’
strategy to implement NDC technology and deliver personalized
price offers through the newly launched Continuous Pricing.

“Our agreement with Sabre is a landmark deal for
airline distribution. I am very excited to shape our joint path
towards modern airline retailing and innovate by introducing a
diversified NDC program with associated commercial models, –
enabling agencies to agree bilaterally on NDC with Lufthansa Group
airlines,” said Tamur Goudarzi Pour, Senior Vice President Revenue
Management and Distribution Lufthansa Group Network Airlines and
Chief Commercial Officer SWISS. “Sabre and Lufthansa Group
airlines share an ambition to innovate at the forefront of our
industry. Through this new level of flexibility, we jointly enable
a diverse distribution ecosystem, extend the reach of NDC and
allow for differentiated commercial models. With this
customer-oriented agreement, Sabre and the Lufthansa Group
airlines team up to put the interests of our travel agency
partners and our joint clients at center stage.”

The go-live plan for NDC is expected to be communicated
during the first half of 2021.

“Today, maybe more than ever, we are looking to
engage creatively with our airline and agency partners to deliver
outcomes that provide added value to all players in the travel
ecosystem,” said Dave Shirk, President, Sabre Travel Solutions.
“Sabre is committed to finding flexible, sustainable solutions
that address traveler expectations, deliver against airlines’
strategies, ensure scalability, and safeguard efficient agency
workflows. I’m proud that we have signed a sustainable agreement
with our partners at Lufthansa Group and one that provides both
companies a new level of flexibility to drive a new generation of
retailing.”

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