Turkish Airlines recently announced that their fares will no longer be available for booking on the Sabre GDS platform starting from September 1st. The decision came after the airline and Sabre failed to reach a content agreement. Each party has pointed fingers at the other, with Turkish Airlines claiming that despite their efforts to continue participating in Sabre, the platform did not reciprocate in a similar manner. On the other hand, Sabre stated that they were unable to reach mutually beneficial and commercially reasonable terms with Turkish Airlines.
This decision has left many travel advisors in a tough spot as they will no longer be able to book Turkish Airlines fares through the Sabre GDS platform. However, Turkish Airlines has assured that their inventory will still be available on other GDS platforms. Travel advisors who currently use Amadeus and Travelport reservation systems will still have access to Turkish Airlines content through their NDC program, TK Connect, which is set to launch in October. Additionally, third-party aggregators will also have access to Turkish Airlines content.
One interesting aspect of Turkish Airlines’ decision is their plan to implement a surcharge for legacy GDS bookings and remove some low-fare content from those systems. This move could potentially impact the pricing and availability of Turkish Airlines fares for travelers. It will be crucial for travel advisors to stay updated on any changes in fares and booking procedures to efficiently serve their clients.
Efforts to Reach an Agreement
Despite the current situation, both Turkish Airlines and Sabre have expressed their desire to reach an agreement and restore the airline’s flight inventory on the Sabre GDS platform. Negotiations with Amadeus and Travelport are also ongoing, indicating that there is still hope for a resolution to this issue. It remains to be seen how this decision will ultimately impact travelers, travel advisors, and the overall airline industry.
Turkish Airlines’ decision to remove their fares from the Sabre GDS platform has significant implications for the travel industry. The ongoing negotiations and the launch of the TK Connect program show that both parties are actively working towards finding a resolution. Travel advisors will need to adapt to these changes and ensure that they can still provide their clients with access to Turkish Airlines fares through alternative channels.