GDS rivals in airline content deal-ar--F.

GDS rivals in airline content deal-ar--F.: "GDS rivals in airline content deal



Amadeus and Sabre have signed a surprise deal to provide each other with airline inventory should a carrier pull out of one of the systems.

It will enable Sabre agents, via Amadeus, to continue to book an airline that withdraws from the Sabre system and vice versa - in effect protecting each other's back.

The move comes as GDSs prepare to renegotiate their airline deals.

A Sabre spokesman said: 'If a major carrier completely pulls out of Amadeus they'll have the option to access that carrier's content through Sabre within 24 hours. It also works the other way.

'We are getting to a point where we believe it's important to adopt reasonably protective measures over the reliability of the distribution channel.'

He stressed there have been no discussions about extending the agreement to other content.

'This is not a broad day-to-day content sharing agreement,' he said. 'This is simply an arrangement where we can access content if absolutely necessary.

'It gives us the option to at least continue to offer the content for a withdrawing airline for as long as we feel it's necessary to do so for our travel agency customers.'

The deal will surprise many in the industry, particularly as the GDSs are usually seen at each other's throats rather than shaking hands on a deal

Denying that each of the GDSs were throwing away a potential future advantage over its rival, Sabre said both companies had taken a 'wider view.'

'Each of us believe there is more to gain through this than we have to lose,' the spokesman said.

Asked if both both playing safe, he said: 'Yes, absolutely. But let's make no mistake. The level of competition betw"