Sabre Criticizes Turkish Airlines’ GDS Fare Changes

Sabre is again criticizing Turkish Airlines pulling fares from GDSs, and slapping a surcharge on future EDIFACT bookings in certain markets.

According to a message from Sabre to its partners, seen by TMR last week, Turkish Airlines on Oct. 1 dropped low-fare content from its contracted GDSs in some markets in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. It also officially added its $24 surcharge on EDIFACT bookings and dropped some fare classes (T,P,W, and U) in EDIFACT bookings in certain markets.

Sabre had long maintained that it was willing and ready to reach a new agreement with Turkish Airlines before the content was dropped from the GDS on Sept. 1. In the message last week, it said that Turkish was “unfairly” targeting “GDSs and travel agencies” by pulling its fares and adding the EDIFCAT surcharge and said that the desire to do so was the “main reason Sabre has been unable to reach an agreement with Turkish Airlines.”

“These decisions significantly impact travel agencies by reducing the availability of flight options, hindering price comparisons, and decreasing booking efficiency. Additionally, the USD 24 surcharge per ticket adds extra costs for both agencies and their customers,” Sabre said in the message.

TMR has reached out to Turkish Airlines, which did ink a deal with another GDS in Travelport in August, for further comment.