Virgin America, in purusing its growth strategy, signed a reservations systems deal with Sabre Airlines Solutions, and the airline also renewed its Sabre Travel Network GDS contract.
In addition to the res system agreement to implement SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service, Virgin America will also use the Sabre AirCentre Operations system for flight operations and crew scheduling.
The res system, flight operations and crew scheduling products will replace offerings from SITA and IBS.
Virgin America says the integrated reservations system from Sabre will position the airline to increase its revenue streams, including those from interlining and codeshare partnerships.
Virgin America also recently joined ARC so it can transition to e-ticketing, a move that would also bolster its interlining plans.
A Virgin America spokeswoman says the operations system would transition to Sabre in September 2011, with the res system migration scheduled to take place in November 2011.
The reservations system deal is another big win for Sabre, following recent agreements over the past couple of years to power WestJet, JetBlue, TRIP Linhas Aéreas and others. In May 2010, British Airways agreed to use a Sabre solution for airport customer handling.
Virgin America has participated in the Sabre GDS since the airline launched in 2007.
The multiyear GDS renewal agreement gives travel agents hooked up to the Sabre GDS access to Virgin America's fares and ancillary services, the companies say.