Sabre vows to keep selling American Airlines

Posted 24/08/2011

Sabre president Tom Klein has said the global distribution system is unlikely to stop selling American Airlines next month when their agreement expires.

Sabre and American are in talks on extending their agreement and the carrier has said it will seek an injunction to maintain its presence on the GDS.  Separately, American is involved in court action with both Sabre and Travelport as the carrier attempts to drive bookings through its own Direct Connect channel.

However, Klein said it would continue working with American as it sought to reach an agreement.

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Klein, speaking in an interview on the sidelines of an industry conference in Denver, said: "Our expectation is that there won't be a service disruption.  We've given [American] a viable path to stay in the system."

A court hearing on American's request for an injunction requiring Sabre to keep displaying its flights has been pushed back to September 26.

American has admitted that it would be a huge blow if it came off the Sabre system.

"Being removed from Sabre would cause massive disruption and harm to our business, the business of agencies and to Sabre itself, so we remain hopeful we will not be put in that position," said a spokesman for American.

American Express has followed Hogg Robinson by agreeing in principle to access American Airlines' fares and services via the carrier's Direct Connect system.

This means the airline has secured an agreement in principle to use Direct Connect with two of the three biggest travel management companies in the UK, which may strengthen its hand in negotiations with Sabre and Travelport.

Originally published 24 Aug 2011 at: http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/398/f/5923/s/1799595d/l/0L0Stravelmole0N0Cstories0C11490A710Bphp0Dmpnlog0F1/story01.htm