Turkish Airlines, a major carrier in the aviation industry, has recently announced that its fares will no longer be bookable in the Sabre Global Distribution System (GDS) starting from September 1. This decision comes after both parties failed to reach a content agreement, with each side blaming the other for the breakdown in negotiations.
In an email to travel advisors, Cemal Kaya, Turkish Airlines‘ general manager for Los Angeles and Denver, expressed disappointment in Sabre’s lack of reciprocity despite the airline’s efforts to continue its participation in the GDS under similar conditions as with other partners. Turkish Airlines inventory will still be available on other GDS platforms, according to Kaya.
On the other hand, Sabre released a statement stating that despite their intense efforts, they were unable to reach mutually beneficial and commercially reasonable terms with Turkish Airlines. As a result, the airline has decided to discontinue distributing its content through Sabre.
Turkish Airlines is now gearing up to launch its New Distribution Capability (NDC) program, TK Connect, in October. This program will introduce a surcharge for legacy GDS bookings and remove some low-fare content from those systems. The airline’s NDC content will be accessible to travel advisors using the Amadeus and Travelport reservation systems, as well as other third-party aggregators, and through direct connect and a Turkish Airlines booking portal.
Amadeus, another major GDS provider, has not provided an update on their negotiations with Turkish Airlines. However, during the company’s Q2 earnings call, Amadeus president of travel Decius Valmorbida mentioned that discussions for a new content agreement with Turkish were ongoing. Travel Weekly has also reached out to Travelport for an update on the status of their content agreement with Turkish.
Despite the current situation, both Turkish Airlines and Sabre have expressed their hopes of reaching an agreement to restore the airline’s flight inventory in the Sabre GDS. The outcome of these negotiations will be crucial for travel advisors and passengers who rely on the convenience and efficiency of booking Turkish Airlines flights through the Sabre system.
In conclusion, the decision by Turkish Airlines to no longer make their fares bookable in the Sabre GDS marks a significant development in the airline industry. As the parties continue to negotiate and explore alternative distribution channels, the future of Turkish Airlines‘ content availability in the GDS remains uncertain. Travel advisors and passengers will need to stay informed about these developments to ensure seamless travel planning and booking experiences.