Southwest joins Sabre booking network

Southwest has fully joined the Sabre global distribution system (GDS), allowing corporate accounts to more seamlessly access, book and modify travel on the low-cost carrier. The Dallas-based airline says on Monday that the move will help it “remove friction” from the booking process for business travellers. The airline’s executives said last week that they expect this segment of the flying public will return in greater numbers in the second half of this year. For the past quarter-century, it was already possible to book and cancel Southwest flights on the Sabre network. However, any other booking modification required a direct phone call to the airline. “Today’s announcement brings us up to an industry standard level, thus putting us on the same playing field and able to offer the same level of service on the airline business travelers and travel decision makers trust for their travel needs,” the airline says.<br/>