Vietnam Airlines, Sabre expand strategic cooperation

 

Hanoi (VNA) – The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines and Sabre Corporation (SABR) - the leading technology provider for the global travel industry will expand their existing strategic cooperation in aviation information and technology under a 300-million USD deal inked in Hanoi on February 27.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong and US President Donald Trump, who is in Hanoi for the DPRK-USA Hanoi Summit Vietnam.

Expanding collaboration with Sabre is part of Vietnam Airlines’ efforts to better its management capacity and services as well as develop itself into a digital airline before 2020.

Under the deal, Vietnam Airlines will apply Sabre’s advanced technology solutions to outline flight schedules and routes, manage cost and revenue, and operate flights, among others.

Particularly, Sabre In-Flight solution will be adopted by the Vietnamese airline to enhance its operational efficiency as it helps save up to 10 percent of total catering cost.

Furthermore, the MoU stipulates a new and long-term domestic content distribution agreement for Vietnam Airlines through the Sabre Global Distribution System (GDS).

At the event, Vietnam Airlines’ President and CEO Duong Tri Thanh said that besides expanding the fleet and improving service quality, the airlines has paid special attention to aviation information technology and automation.

Cooperation with Sabre is a significant move for Vietnam Airlines when it is targeting the Skytra five-star status as well as affirming its position in the regional aviation sector, he underlined.

Meanwhile, Executive Vice President of Sabre and President of its Travel Solutions Dave Shirk said that both sides have cooperated for 20 years. Sabre commits to providing latest technologies for Vietnam Airlines - one of the region’s leading carriers, contributing to the airline’s development.

Earlier in 2018, Vietnam Airlines and Sabre inked a long-term contract worth 400 million USD on maintaining and upgrading SabreSonic system.

Along with collaboration with Sabre, the airline has channeled focus on expanding online payment, improving booking interface, and introducing a new mobile app.-VNA