XL TRAVEL agencies have
split, some opting to stay with
Travelport as their preferred
technology provider and not
move over to Sabre.
The XL Travel Group
announced late last year it
was switching GDSs, moving
27 of its associates on to
Sabre Travel Technology (see
TNW October 30, 2013).
Meanwhile, Travelport has
approached various members,
negotiating deals directly
with agencies. Last week the
technology provider announced
a new multi-year renewal of
its partnership with XL Flywell
Travel – a full-service travel
agency that specialises in
religious pilgrimages to the
Holy Land, Saudi Arabia and
India. XL Flywell is not alone.
Other agencies in the XL
Group have signed up to
remain with Travelport, says
Robyn Christie, Travelport’s
gm for SA. “We will continue
to release information on
this in the coming weeks as
a signicant portion of the
members have decided to
remain with Travelport,” she
says. “Travelport intends to
retain its existing business as
well as recruit new business in
the year ahead.”
Coo of XL Travel, Rod Rutter,
told TNW: “Change is difcult
and some XL members have
not migrated to Sabre for
several reasons, which we
respect, but the majority of the
XL members have opted for
the group’s preferred GDS. We
do see this migration growing,
as new XL members come
on board and others migrate
on to the group’s preferred
platform.
“The group is excited about
pioneering new and the latest
travel technology and securing
a long-term partnership with
the largest global GDS. One
cannot remain static in our
business, especially with
regard to technology. We not
only need to differentiate our
service offering but select the
best partner to do business
with,” Rod said.
He added that, from
December 1, around 28 Sabre
technicians from around the
world had been working to
assist with the XL migration.
“Sabre is actively boosting
local staff complement to
cope with a potential surge
in demand from the travel
industry. Emirates, Etihad and
BA Comair have now migrated
to the Sabre airline platform,
with more to follow.
“Over the next few years
the GDS landscape in South
Africa will change signicantly
as competition increases
and agents look for the best
technology delivered at the
best price,” he says.
