Turkish Airlines is set to stop offering fares through Sabre starting on September 1, leading travel agencies to find other ways to book flights. Sabre, a global distribution system (GDS), acts as an intermediary between airlines and travel agencies, allowing travel sellers to access wholesale airfares to purchase on behalf of clients. Both Turkish Airlines and Sabre blame each other for failing to reach mutually beneficial terms, resulting in the discontinuation of distributing content through Sabre. Despite Sabre’s efforts, Turkish Airlines has decided to discontinue its participation in the platform.
As Turkish Airlines moves away from Sabre, it is gearing up to launch a new platform called TKConnect, allowing travel agents to book flights directly with the airline instead of going through an intermediary. TKConnect will offer special promotional prices, enhanced capabilities for ancillary services, and a more modern look with visual elements. Booking through TKConnect will also be exempt from the distribution cost charge that the airline plans to implement for sales through intermediaries like Sabre and Amadeus. This move towards direct bookings comes as the industry explores new options in light of growing fees associated with working through intermediaries.
Amadeus, a competitor of Sabre, has confirmed that negotiations with Turkish Airlines are ongoing. The industry is in the midst of a shift towards a more modern airfare shopping experience, and airlines are seeking ways to avoid the increasing fees of working with intermediaries. American Airlines had been moving towards a similar strategy focused on direct bookings and modern retail, but the CEO cited poor execution and backtracked on the plan. Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport have been developing their own versions of technology to enhance the airfare shopping experience, with Turkish Airlines’ TKConnect aiming to provide a more streamlined and visually appealing platform.
Sabre expressed its openness to continuing negotiations with Turkish Airlines, stating that they value their relationship and hope to reach an agreement in the future that benefits all parties involved. However, developing a direct connection to an airline can often be expensive and inefficient for both agencies and airlines. Despite Turkish Airlines’ positive and constructive efforts to continue participating in Sabre under similar conditions as other GDS partners, an agreement was not reached. The airline’s decision to move towards direct bookings and its upcoming launch of TKConnect reflect a broader industry trend towards finding alternatives to traditional GDS systems. How this shift will ultimately impact the airline industry and travel booking experience remains to be seen as Turkish Airlines takes steps to chart its own course in the evolving landscape.
