Sabre acquires Flight Explorer

Press release – 11 September 2008 – Sabre-Flight Explorer Sabre Holdings today announced the acquisition of Flight Explorer, the leading provider of Commercial Aircraft Situation Display (ASD) solutions, providing real-time tracking, reporting, and display of en-route aircraft. This acquisition is part of Sabre’s long-term growth plans and continual investments in the company’s airline portfolio. Today’s…

Press release – 11 September 2008 – Sabre–Flight Explorer

Sabre Holdings today announced the acquisition of Flight Explorer, the leading provider of Commercial Aircraft Situation Display (ASD) solutions, providing real-time tracking, reporting, and display of en-route aircraft.

This acquisition is part of Sabre’s long-term growth plans and continual investments in the company’s airline portfolio.

Today’s acquisition combines two exceptional industry leaders, resulting in a powerful flight planning solution that will help airlines optimise operational efficiencies and realise cost-saving benefits.

Flight Explorer, and its products, will become part of Sabre Airline Solutions, the world’s leading provider of integrated solutions and services for airlines and airports.

“The addition of Flight Explorer, with its outstanding flight tracking and airspace monitoring capabilities, to Sabre’s comprehensive portfolio of solutions positions us to be the unique provider of a fully integrated, world-class flight planning and aircraft tracking solution,” said Steve Clampett, president of Airline Products and Solutions for Sabre Airline Solutions.

“We have enjoyed a strong working relationship with Flight Explorer for many years and are now proud to make them a part of Sabre.”

Flight Explorer products will be fully integrated with Sabre’s Dispatch Manager, part of Sabre Airline Solutions’ Flight Planning suite. The two companies will provide airlines a solution that will give them access to critical, real-time operational information and world-class flight plan optimisation, helping pre-empt delays, among other benefits.

Flight Explorer’s products will also be available to global aviation customers as a stand-alone solution.

The combined solutions will leverage the powerful graphic components and proactive alerting capabilities of Flight Explorer with the robust flight planning capabilities of Sabre Dispatch Manager to help airlines choose the most efficient, cost-effective flight plan.

“Becoming part of Sabre will take Flight Explorer to even more airlines worldwide with Sabre’s strong global presence,” said Jim Kelly, president and chief executive officer of Flight Explorer.

“This is a great day for our company and our customers.”  Flight Explorer was strategically advised by WWC Securities in this transaction.

Later this year, Flight Explorer and Sabre will launch SmartFleet, a tool that will give airlines an opportunity to reap the benefits offered by the integration of Collaborative Decision Making (CDM) tools into the Flight Explorer ASD.

SmartFleet will be fully integrated with Dispatch Manager and will combine multiple data sources of air traffic, airport capacity and weather into one display while interacting with the flight planning engine. SmartFleet is expected to significantly improve on-time performance, aircraft utilisation and fuel efficiencies across carriers and general aviation.