How Can Turkish Airlines and Sabre’s New Partnership Enhance Your Travel Experience in Istanbul and Beyond? – Travel And Tour World

In a significant move for the airline and global travel industry, Turkish Airlines has renewed its long-standing partnership with Sabre Corporation, one of the world’s leading global distribution systems (GDS). Starting June 24, 2025, Turkish Airlines content will once again be available through Sabre, providing travel agencies worldwide with more access to the airline’s services. This partnership not only restores traditional content access through EDIFACT but also introduces a new New Distribution Capability (NDC) content integration.

The deal signifies a modern shift in how airlines and travel agencies distribute and sell airfares, enhancing the travel booking experience for both agents and customers. The addition of NDC content promises to elevate the customer experience, offering more personalized and detailed fare and service options.

This renewed agreement is a continuation of the strong relationship between Turkish Airlines and Sabre, which dates back to 1990. Both companies are committed to evolving with the times, integrating new technologies, and providing more options for travel agencies and customers alike.

A Strategic Partnership: Turkish Airlines and Sabre’s Long-Standing Relationship

Since their collaboration began in 1990, Turkish Airlines and Sabre have worked together to improve how travel content is distributed and accessed by global travel agents. This partnership has allowed travel professionals to easily book flights, providing detailed airline offerings to a wide range of customers. The renewal of this agreement marks a significant milestone in both companies’ efforts to remain at the forefront of the evolving travel industry.

• Turkish Airlines’ Presence: As Turkey’s national carrier, Turkish Airlines operates flights to over 300 destinations worldwide, offering a global reach that benefits travelers across the globe. The airline has been known for its superior service and a diverse network connecting passengers to various international locations.
• Sabre’s Influence: Sabre is one of the world’s largest global distribution systems, providing travel agencies and suppliers with tools and platforms to sell and manage travel services. The Sabre GDS has been integral in revolutionizing how travel content is distributed, making it easier for agencies to access information, book flights, and manage reservations.

Through this partnership, Turkish Airlines continues to expand its reach and visibility across Sabre’s platform, allowing it to maintain and grow its presence in the highly competitive global travel market.

Introducing New Distribution Capability (NDC)

The integration of NDC content into the renewed partnership marks an important step forward in modernizing how airfares and services are sold. NDC is a new standard for airline distribution, developed by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which allows airlines to offer richer, more personalized content through travel agencies and other third-party distributors.

• What is NDC?: NDC is a next-generation airline distribution technology that provides a framework for airlines to offer more dynamic and customized services to their customers. Unlike traditional methods, which offer a more standardized booking experience, NDC allows airlines to sell tailored fare options, ancillary services, and unique offerings.
• Benefits for Travel Agents: Travel agents now have access to more detailed content, such as specific fare bundles, additional services like seat upgrades, and added value options. With NDC, travel professionals can offer a much richer and personalized booking experience to their clients.

The introduction of NDC on Sabre’s platform ensures that agencies connected to Sabre will be able to access Turkish Airlines’ NDC content, offering more opportunities to provide unique, customized solutions for their customers.

Impact of the Partnership on Travel Agencies

The renewed deal with Sabre is a win-win for travel agencies worldwide. By having Turkish Airlines content fully integrated into Sabre’s distribution system, agencies can now access the airline’s services through one of the world’s most widely used platforms.

• Broader Content Access: The deal enables travel agencies to offer their customers the full range of Turkish Airlines products, including exclusive fares, promotional deals, and specialized services.
• Enhanced Customer Experience: With NDC technology, customers can expect a more personalized shopping experience. This allows them to select from a variety of fare options and ancillaries tailored to their needs, making their travel experience even more enjoyable.
• Increased Efficiency: The integration of NDC content helps streamline the booking process, making it more efficient for travel agents to search for, book, and manage flights. With the ability to display more detailed content, agencies can more easily fulfill their customers’ preferences and needs, ensuring a higher level of customer satisfaction.

How This Affects the Airline and Its Customers

For Turkish Airlines, this agreement opens the door to further enhance its retailing capabilities and improve how the airline sells its products globally. The move towards NDC content will enable the airline to better manage and showcase its vast range of services, offering a more seamless and customizable booking experience.

• Improved Retailing: With NDC, Turkish Airlines can create more dynamic fare offerings, provide better content visibility, and even tailor its services to specific customer groups. This means customers will be able to access more options and details than ever before.
• Stronger Customer Relationships: Offering personalized services through NDC will help Turkish Airlines strengthen its relationship with customers, providing them with better deals and a more customized travel experience. By offering richer content, the airline can also better meet customer expectations in today’s competitive market.

The Future of Airline Distribution: What’s Next for Turkish Airlines and Sabre

The partnership between Turkish Airlines and Sabre signals an exciting shift toward the future of airline distribution. The technical integration work to support NDC content has already begun, and both companies are committed to ensuring a smooth and efficient rollout. As NDC technology becomes more widely adopted, it is expected to further transform how airlines interact with customers and how travel agencies book and sell flights.

• Expansion of NDC Content: Over the next few months, Sabre-connected agencies will be able to access an even wider range of personalized fare options and services from Turkish Airlines. This includes bundled services, flexible fare options, and more tailored travel experiences.
• Ongoing Innovation: As Sabre and Turkish Airlines continue to evolve their offerings, customers will benefit from innovative tools and enhanced technologies, making travel bookings easier, faster, and more efficient. Both companies are committed to customer satisfaction and are looking ahead to additional innovations that will further improve the booking process.

The future of air travel looks bright with the ongoing advancements in airline distribution, and this agreement represents a key milestone for both Turkish Airlines and Sabre in paving the way for more advanced, customer-focused services.

Conclusion: A Stronger, More Connected Travel Industry

The renewed partnership between Turkish Airlines and Sabre Corporation is set to have a lasting impact on the global travel industry. With NDC integration and broader access to Turkish Airlines content, travel agencies will be able to provide more personalized, detailed, and efficient travel options for their customers. This move not only strengthens the relationship between Turkish Airlines and Sabre but also positions both companies as leaders in the evolving airline distribution landscape.

For Turkish Airlines, the move to integrate NDC content represents a commitment to modernizing the way it distributes its services, ensuring that travelers have access to a richer, more dynamic booking experience. For Sabre, the continued partnership with Turkish Airlines solidifies its position as a leader in the global distribution system market.

As the travel industry continues to evolve, the collaboration between Turkish Airlines and Sabre sets the stage for a future where customers have more choices and flexibility when booking their flights. This marks a new chapter in the travel booking experience, one that will bring benefits to both travel agents and travelers alike.

Key Takeaways:

• Turkish Airlines and Sabre renew their partnership, restoring access to Turkish Airlines’ content through the Sabre GDS.
• NDC content integration will bring personalized fare options, bundled services, and dynamic pricing to travel agents.
• Travel agencies will gain access to a wider range of Turkish Airlines offerings, improving customer satisfaction and booking efficiency.
• NDC technology represents a shift toward a more customized, customer-centric airline distribution model.
• Both companies are committed to innovating the travel booking process, enhancing services, and improving the overall travel experience for consumers.

This partnership is a win for Turkish Airlines, Sabre, and the entire travel industry, signaling a future of greater connectivity and personalized travel experiences for all involved.