…As Sabre Assures UNA Of Flight Visibility Globally
United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), one of the domestic airlines in the country has entered into partnership with Sabre Corporation to assist in the distribution of its products having keyed into the Global Distribution System (GDS).
This is just as the airline’s said that the partnership with Sabre Technology has made the airline the third Nigerian carrier on the GDS.
Briefing Aviation Correspondents today in Lagos, the Chairman of UNA, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo, said the integration, over 50,000 travel trade partners across 200 countries would now be able to access the UNA’s seamlessly.
The UNA Chairman UNA, who is very optimistic about Sabre’e capability noted that the airline’s migration to Sabre network would ensure the airline matches its capacity and aircraft type with demand.
Beyond that, Okonkwo said that it would also enhance interlining planning in all UNA’s network.
Speaking further the UNA boss said that the transition and integration to Sabre was part of the airline’s promise to enhance Information Technology (IT) and innovative ideas for the airline.
Migration to Sabre, he pointed out would further boost the airline’s Lagos-Accra route, which according to him will commence on August 25, 2025.
According to him, “These are things that we have lined up as part of our objectives that have been a little delayed by the turbulence in the country that we are seeing especially in the aviation sector in the last two to three years. We can be delayed, but can’t be stopped.
“We understand the challenges that this is coming with, but with over 50,000 agents in 200 countries with the capacity to buy our tickets, it means we have more seats to sell. We need to increase our inventory.”
He hinted that this time next year( 2026), the airline would have increased its capacity by over 2,000 per cent.
He also informed that between October to November this year, the carrier will add not less than four wide body aircraft into the airline’s fleet.
He also disclosed that between February to April next year, the airline will be adding six Boeing 737-800NG into its fleet bringing it to a total of 10 additional airplanes.
Speaking on the challenges the airline has been facing, the Chairman, said, “We know it has been very challenging, but we are not less determined, we are not giving up, we will continue to do our best and continue to count on the public, hoping that they will understand what we do to make things better.”
On his part, the Vice President, Sabre Travel Central and West Africa,Also, Dr. Olayiwola Dare, assured UNA that the technology driven organisation would supply the airline high quality IT solution to make the airline’s operations seamless and also boost its performa
With the migration to Sabre, UNA, Dare said would benefit in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the travel industry.
Speaking further, he said that it would help the airline to serve the customers better, assist the travel trade partners to sell tickets seamlessly and help air travellers to have the right experience.
Besides, Dare noted that the migration give UNA unfettered access to all the travel channels that Sabre operate, either via the Online Travel Agency (OTA) or through other desired travel agencies.
“In Sabre, we are very much committed to ensure that our technical capability is well-implemented with United Nigeria as we do for other airlines globally.
“Also, we have a very big market place with over 200 countries currently and over 50,000 travel agencies globally working on our platform and this will put United Nigeria in that platform and accessible to all travel agencies globally and all those travel management companies like Shell, Chevron, Total and other big firms, irrespective of your location throughout the world. United Nigeria is going to be accessible.”
The Director, Africa and Europe, Sabre Corporation, Mr. Robert Brian,in a short comment hailed the airline for migrating to use Sabre technology.
He said with this, the company would integrate the airline to the rest of the world.
According to him, “We are an American company, but we have been working in Africa for years. Today is special because you can now book through GDS in Nigeria.”
He stated that with the partnership, travel trade partners in all part of the world Travel can see UNA flights .
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