Southwest Airlines Joins Sabre GDS

Southwest Airlines is now distributing tickets via Sabre’s global distribution system (GDS), a leading corporate booking channel in the US. Business travelers and travel decision makers can now book Southwest within all three of the major GDS.

“Today, our 26 year partnership with Southwest Airlines reaches an important milestone as we launch Southwest’s air content fully integrated within the Sabre system, making it easier for travel management companies and corporations to shop, book and service Southwest flights on behalf of their business travelers,” said Andy Finkelstein, Senior Vice President of Global Agency Sales & Corporate Solutions for Sabre Travel Solutions. “Not only does this greatly expand Southwest’s reach into the business travel segment, Sabre’s travel agency and corporate customers will experience the increased efficiency, productivity and cost-savings that comes from booking Southwest through our agency point-of-sale, Sabre Red 360 and our corporate booking solution, GetThere.”

Launched in 2019, Southwest Business set out to revolutionize the way it focuses on the business travel space by adding content to Travelport, Amadeus, and Sabre, including settling GDS purchased tickets through Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC), growing its sales team across the country, and enhancing the tools business travel decision makers need to manage their respective travel programs.

“As we bring the Southwest Effect to business travel, our number one focus continues to be removing friction when booking travel, while at the same time investing in the booking channels used most by travelers and travel decision makers,” said Dave Harvey, Vice President of Southwest Business. “Thanks to our new partnership with Sabre, we’re able to provide the ability for more organizations than ever before to quickly book and modify travel with just a few clicks. As more businesses begin to open, we look forward to welcoming more travelers back to the sky with Southwest’s famous Hospitality and Heart that sets Southwest apart within the airline industry.”

See also: Airline Network Planning in 2021 and Beyond - Interview with Cem Tanyel, Sabre Travel Solutions and NDC - Exclusive Interview with Kathy Morgan of Sabre Travel Solutions.

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