The weekly news roundup: It’s all about partnership and growth this week – Sabre’s distribution agreement with SilkAir, Malaysia Airlines Bhd’s technology partnership with Amadeus, Travelport’s new deal with Indonesian travel agencies
DESTINATIONS: SilkAir and Sabre join forces to help Laos grow its tourism market
Luang Prabang’s famous night market outside the Royal Palace complex is a great tourist draw. (Image credit: AsianDream/iStock)
SilkAir and Sabre Corporation are backing Laos in the expansion of its tourism industry by making the airline’s new flights to the emerging destination available via the Global Distribution System (GDS).
The two companies inked a new distribution agreement, which opens SilkAir’s new Singapore-Laos fares and ancillary services to travel agents for booking through the Sabre Travel Marketplace.
It is the first time the air content will be available to travel agents via this channel.
The regional wing of Singapore Airlines launched its Singapore-Vientiane-Luang Prabang-Singapore flights on October 31 through a codeshare agreement with Lao Airlines.
Ryan Pua, SilkAir’s vice president, commercial, said the new routes would support Laos’s emergence as a popular international tourism destination.
The new service connects Laos with the joint Singapore Airlines and SilkAir network of over 100 cities worldwide via Singapore Changi Airport hub and connecting international flights.
“Now, through our agreement with Sabre these flights will also be made available to over 425,000 Sabre-connected travel agents globally, supporting further growth in travel bookings to and from Laos,” Pua added.
Hans Belle, vice president of supplier commerce and strategic partnerships for Sabre Travel Network Asia Pacific, said Laos has significant potential as an international tourism destination.
“Continued visitor growth is being further supported by a Government commitment to promote the industry, ongoing infrastructure development and the country’s entry into the ASEAN Economic Community last year.”
In 2015 total visitor numbers to Laos reached 4.6 million. Lao Tourism Development Department projects the number to double by 2025, reaching nine million.
Sabre is the first GDS to enable electronic ticketing of SilkAir tickets among authorised travel agents in Laos, which is a non-IATA Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) country.
TRAVEL TECHNOLOGY: Malaysia Airlines utilises technology for its ‘traveller first’ approach
It’s traveller first for Malaysia Airlines (Image credit: uskarp/iStock)
Malaysia’s national carrier, Malaysia Airlines Bhd, is adopting a ‘traveller first’ approach, putting its customers at the fore front of its operations, and is using technology to do it.
It has enlisted the help of Amadeus through a a technology agreement that focuses on transforming the airline’s passenger service operations, developing new revenue streams, and revamping the online shopping experience for travellers.
A new merchandising engine, powered by Amadeus technology, will enable Malaysia Airlines’ customers pick individual services, both à la carte or in a bundle across all channels.
Amadeus said its new mobile and Internet booking solutions would further improve the online shopping experience for the airline’s customers.
“For the traveller, this means an easier and more personalised shopping experience; and for the airline, new revenue opportunities,” it said.
Under the agreement Malaysia Airlines will also adopt the full Amadeus Altéa Passenger Service System (PSS) to manage and improve all core passenger processes including reservation, inventory and departure control.
As Altéa is used by 64% of member airlines of oneworld, of which Malaysia Airlines is a member, it will benefit from closer integration with its partner airlines, according to Amadeus.
The Malaysian carrier will be able to share availability, fares, as well as customer and booking information with other oneworld partners, providing a more seamless customer experience for travellers across alliance members.
Peter Bellew, Malaysia Airlines chief executive officer and group managing director, said technology would play an important role in the airline’s transformation.
“Having a robust and adaptable technology system will position us well for continued recovery and future success,” he added.
TOUR OPERATORS: Three Indonesian travel agencies sign in with Travelport
Indonesia is a fast growing travel destination in Asia Pacific. (Image credit/Prambanan temple: picturist/iStock)
Three of Indonesia’s leading travel agencies – Dwidayatour, Panorama Tours Indonesia, and Smailing Tours and Travel Service – have signed agreements with Travelport Indonesia to migrate to Travelport travel commerce platform.
The agencies will be using Travelport Smartpoint point-of-sale solution, which gives them access to travel content including branded fares and ancillaries from airlines and low cost carriers, as well as over 650,000 hotel properties and 36,000 car rental locations.
Mark Meehan, Travelport’s managing director for Asia-Pacific, said as Indonesia is one of the fastest growing countries in Asia Pacific for travel it is a “strategically important region” for the company.
According to Euromonitor, Indonesia has the world’s fourth largest middle class after China, India and the US. The country is projected to be the fastest growing travel market in the Asia Pacific region, with gross bookings expected to increase 51% to US$17.5 billion by 2017
• Featured image credit (Mekong River): Vu Cong Danh/iStock
