Finnair and Sabre ink agreement for selling ancillaries

Finnair is to sell ancillary services via travel agencies using the Sabre GDS.

Finnair is to sell ancillary services via travel agencies using the Sabre GDS.

Sabre-connected agents can reserve and buy ancillary services offered by the airline, starting with pre-paid baggage.

Agents will also be able to book pre-paid seats for clients from next year.

Sabre EMEA senior vice president Harald Eisenaecher said: “The sale of ancillary services, such as pre-paid baggage and seating, is an extremely valuable revenue stream for airlines.

“We’re seeing more European carriers turn to ancillary products to boost their revenues, and Sabre provides a high-yield marketplace to help them sell these.

“It’s an area we’ve made significant investments in so airlines can market and sell their products, and agents can improve their efficiency and service by booking and fulfilling tickets and ancillaries together, and capturing back end booking data on their customers.”

Finnair head of global corporate sales and GDS distribution, Jani Peuhkurinen said: “Over the last few years Finnair has made terrific strides in growing its network value, especially on strategically important premium Asian Europe traffic.

“Distribution through travel agencies and Sabre’s global reach ensures we will continue to provide full content to intermediaries, allowing Finnair to deepen its footprint in markets around the world.

“Revenue generated from the sale of ancillary services is hugely important to the modern airline. Leveraging the Sabre travel agency network will allow our ancillary business to grow.”