Put on a happy face: Sabre announces new agreement with top Asian airline

US-based tech firm, Sabre Corporation and regional airline THAI Smile have announced today a brand new distribution to boost traveller confidence amid a ramped up domestic tourism drive.

This new partnership means that content from THAI Smile, which operates to more than 30 domestic and regional destinations as well as seamlessly connecting to dozens of more destinations through its parent company THAI Airways International PLC, will be available through the Sabre GDS. The announcement comes after THAI Smile, together with THAI Airways, became the first airlines in Thailand to receive the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration (SHA) certificate, which is designed to build traveller confidence through official recognition of strong preventive measures.

Connecting to Sabre’s GDS platform will provide THAI Smile with access to Sabre’s rich global travel marketplace, which is composed of more than 425,000 travel agents across the world, supporting the carrier as it plays a key role in Thailand’s domestic tourism recovery and future ramping up of regional operations, while further reinforcing Sabre’s commitment to providing robust retailing, distribution and fulfilment solutions that benefit airlines, travel retailers and consumers.

“This latest partnership demonstrates our commitment to supporting all airlines, across all business models, whether low cost, full-service or operating under a hybrid model like THAI Smile, which serves a market gap between the two,” said Rakesh Narayanan, vice president, regional general manager, Asia Pacific, travel solutions airline sales. “Thailand has recently announced a stimulus package to boost domestic tourism while cautiously re-opening to foreign visitors, and we’re delighted to be able to support THAI Smile at this important time as the carrier provides additional content and choice to travel agents through the Sabre GDS, enabling them to book the trips and create the experiences that their travel customers want.”

“We remain focused on domestic and future regional growth opportunities as we navigate through this pandemic,” said THAI Smile’s CEO Charita Leelayudth.

“As such, it was vital that we chose the right technology partner to enable us to fulfil an effective business continuity plan, empowering us to expand our geographical reach by ensuring content is distributed widely to our partners across the world. This will allow us to amplify our presence in new and existing markets as we first look forward to leading domestic recovery by flying domestic travellers to 12 destinations across Thailand with full-service offering together with providing excellent Thai hospitality to all passengers and strengthening our regional route network to be recognized as Asia’s leading regional airline.”