United Nigeria Airlines (UNA), in a bid towards international expansion, and seamless global distribution, has joined the Global Distribution System (GDS) of renowned travel technology giant, Sabre Corporation.
This agreement and partnership with Sabre Corporation was disclosed at a press conference held at the airline’s office in Lagos.
Olayiwola Dare, Vice President, Sales and Strategy for Sabre Corporation, said the platform’s extensive reach would deliver exponential exposure for United Nigeria Airlines.
He noted that what Sabre is doing is to ensure Nigerian carriers are put on the same page with the rest of the world.
He said “What we do is for us to ensure that we simplify the complexity in travel business from the retailing to the distribution, selling to airport automation, everything about travels, right from the time you are booking to when you are flying and return back.”
Dare explained that the agreement with United Nigeria Airlines on GDS clearly shows that Nigeria’s aviation industry is advancing with companies like United Nigeria Airlines, who are the future.
He explained that the benefits of partnership with United Nigeria Airlines includes , application of Artificial Intelligence in travel industry which is going to serve the customers better, it is going to help the travel agencies to sell in a better way and it is going to help the travellers to have the right experience in travelling.
“In Sabre, we are committed to ensure that our technical capability is well implemented with United Nigeria Airlines, as it is done for other airlines globally”
Dare further stated that “We have a very big market space with over 200 countries currently and over 50,000 travel agencies globally working on our platform, and this will put United Nigeria Airlines in that platform and accessible to all travel agencies globally. ”
This partnership gives UNA access to all travel management companies – Shell, Chevron, Total, all the big folds, irrespective of your location throughout the World, United Nigeria Airlines going forward will be accessible.”
The GDS deal means that travel agents across continents can now shop and book UNA’s fares in real time. This digital distribution capability is critical for the airline’s commercial ambitions.
Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines, Prof. Obiora Okonkwo while addressing journalists at the event said with this agreement, United Nigeria Airlines has become the third Nigeria Airline that is on GDS.
He stated that the move is in line with the airline’s promise to go global as quickly as they can as well as part of their set out objectives that has been a little bit delayed due to some problems in the country and the aviation sector in the last two /three years.
He said “But we can be delayed but definitely not be stopped. We understand the challenges this is coming with.
“What it means now is that with over 50,000 agencies in 200 countries with the capacity to buy our tickets, that means we need alot more seats to sell. We need to increase our wide ranges. ”
Okonkwo further revealed that “We have good news for you, by this time next year, we would have increased our capacity. From October to November, we will be inducting into our fleet not less than four big aircraft, from February to April next year, we are having six B737-800 jet in our fleet”
He stressed that with these, the airline will not only be strengthening their local operations in Nigeria, but will be properly positioned for their regional, continental as well as intercontinental flights.
“As you may be aware, we have designation to a whole lot of countries in West Africa, Africa and also globally, including America and United kingdom.”
Okonkwo disclosed that “We have fixed 25th August, 2025, to make our first regional flight to Accra, Ghana.
He noted its been challenging, but that the airline is not giving up, as they are determined to give the best of travel experience to Nigerians.
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