Sabre has created a Travel Solutions division spanning airline solutions as well as data and analytics across its business units.
The company has promoted Dave Shirk to executive vice president and president of Travel Solutions while Wade Jones, EVP and president of Travel Network will report to Shirk.
The company is recruiting to replace Shirk’s current position as Airline Solutions boss.
The company says the thinking behind the new structure is to help it accelerate its retailing, distribution and fullfillment capabilities including its NDC-enabled developments.
A statement from Sean Menke, Sabre president and CEO, says: “Our customers are looking for holistic technology solutions to their retailing, distribution and fulfillment needs that unlock new opportunities to engage with travelers, drive revenue and provide an edge in their ultra-competitive industries.”
The move should not be seen as a surprise in the context of Sabre’s ambitions to have NDC-enabled services by the end of 2018.
The company announced a pilot program with airlines and agencies in May saying it was planning new APIs this year.
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The company says it’s also developing a Digital Airline Commercial Platform.
Sabre has also announced the appointment of former Google director of engineering, Sundar Narasimhan, who joins as president of Sabre Labs and product strategy.
Narasimhan, who was also forrmely chief technology officer at ITA Software when it was acquired by Google, will lead Sabre Labs from a new office Boston where the company is expanding the lab.
Meanwhile, Louis Selincourt joins Sabre as senior vice president of global development centers. He was formerly managing partner at Better Faster Further. Joe DiFonzo remains as chief information officer and Vish Saoji as chief technology officer.