Saudi Arabia's travel sector benefits from extended and upgraded partnership between Pakistan International Airlines and Sabre Travel Network

An extended, upgraded and enhanced distribution agreement with Sabre Travel Network enables travel consultants in the Kingdom to provide an unrivalled level and range of services to their customers in PIA's most important global market.

The advantages of PIA's newly extended five-year distribution agreement with Sabre Travel Network includes the upgrade of the airline's participation in the Sabre global distribution system (GDS) to Direct Connect Availability (DCA), the highest level of connectivity. As an electronic marketplace for buying and selling travel and travel related services, PIA connected travel consultants in Saudi Arabia are now using Sabre Travel Network to gain enhanced access to real time information about PIA's seat availability and fare packages.

The Distribution agreement is also bundled with operational and decision-support tools from Sabre Travel Network's sister business, Sabre Airline Solutions.

The significance of the partnership and the importance of the Saudi Arabian market to PIA was highlighted during a Sabre Travel Network-hosted event in Jeddah recently and was attended by a delegation of senior visiting PIA officials and travel agents from the Kingdom.

"Sabre Holdings, as a whole, has successfully transcended the traditional relationship between GDS operator and airline, which was based solely on distribution," said S Kamran Hasan, PIA senior vice president sales. "While traditional GDSs remain the travel industry's most effective and profitable channel of sales and distribution, we definitely intend to grow our business through the intelligent use of multiple distribution channels. Sabre, with its unrivalled presence in every channel of travel sales and distribution, remains a strong distribution partner for us."

"PIA's approach to its distribution and operational technology is innovative and forward-thinking," said Daniel Naoumovitch, chief executive officer of Sabre Travel Network Middle East. "It's a significant airline and an important global partner for the entire Sabre Holdings business. I am pleased that our breadth of business in all travel channels could provide solid proof of a unique portfolio, and deliver PIA the distribution and operational value it requires, particularly for its business in its most important market - Saudi Arabia."

The partnership has also been further enhanced by developments within Sabre Travel Network in the Middle East. The company recently inaugurated its new office in Jeddah and will be enhancing its presence in the Eastern Province by opening a new office during the first quarter of this year.

"Our new offices in Jeddah and those planned elsewhere have enabled us to build stronger relationships with agencies in the Kingdom as we are closer to them geographically. Our investments in the Kingdom include on-the-ground account managers, training specialists, technical support staff and a local Help Desk team. Travel agencies are seeing the value this commitment has created and this has led to a number of major travel agencies migrating from competing systems to Sabre Travel Network."

An added advantage in the partnership is the fact that all Sabre Travel Network connected travel agencies in the Kingdom are among the first across Europe, the Middle East and Africa to be using Sabre® Air suite - the industry's broadest and most powerful suite for comprehensive availability, schedules, shopping, pricing and ticketing. This latest offering from Sabre Travel Network ensures the availability of the most detailed travel content information - including that of PIA - directly from a travel consultant's desktop without additional cost to the agency. A streamlined search process and a significant increase in flight options increases sales opportunities and travel consultants can now provide previously unavailable connecting service options. More flight options may also result in more low-fare options and quotes are available for around-the-world and circle-trip fares.

"Collectively, Sabre Travel Network's sophisticated tools in use across the Kingdom are helping travel agencies to drive operational efficiency, enhance customer service, reduce costs and increase revenues through improved technology services, bookable travel products and distribution services from Sabre Travel Network. Our ongoing and bolstered global partnership with PIA, our investments in the Kingdom and our resulting strengthened presence add to the business benefits Sabre Travel Network solutions provide and this has culminated in a winning proposition that is set to further develop business opportunities for Saudi travel agencies, for PIA and for Sabre Travel Network," added Mr Naoumovitch.