How we make this list: we compare pricing pages, product documentation and public user reviews. Ratings come from G2, Capterra or Trustpilot, with the date we checked them.
Key takeaways
- Amadeus Altea and SabreSonic remain the default passenger service systems for full service and network carriers.
- Navitaire suits low cost carriers that prioritize retailing speed and low operating cost over legacy complexity.
- InteliSys amelia and GO7 AeroCRS give regional, hybrid and startup airlines a cloud PSS without enterprise implementation timelines.
- Videcom is the specialist pick for regional airlines that need IATA compliant reservations and departure control in one system.
- Almost every airline PSS is quote based, so budget on implementation, certification, distribution and support, not a published monthly price.
Quick comparison
| Tool | Best for | Starting price | Free plan |
|---|
 Amadeus Altea | Global network carriers | See website | No |
 SabreSonic | Full service carriers | See website | No |
 Travelport | Distribution and retailing for airlines and sellers | See website | No |
 Navitaire | Low cost carriers | See website | No |
 InteliSys amelia | Regional and hybrid carriers | See website | No |
 Videcom | Regional airlines needing reservations plus departure control | See website | No |
 Hitit Crane | Growing carriers needing a full PSS | See website | No |
 GO7 AeroCRS | Small and startup airlines | See website | No |
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The best airline reservations software
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Amadeus Altea is the passenger service system behind many of the world largest airlines, and its strength is breadth. Reservations, inventory, pricing, ticketing, loyalty and departure control run on one platform, with distribution through Amadeus GDS, direct channels and NDC connections. For a network carrier with alliances, codeshares and interline agreements, that integration removes the reconciliation work that comes from stitching separate systems together.
The cost of that breadth is scale. Pricing is negotiated by volume, market and modules, implementation runs in months and often longer, and staff need specialized training. A regional carrier with a simple route map will pay for capability it never uses. For a full service carrier that needs global reach, alliance support and modern retailing in one contract, Altea remains the benchmark other systems are judged against.
What we like- Deepest global distribution and partner ecosystem
- Integrated reservations, inventory, pricing and departure control
- Strong NDC and offer management
Watch out for- Pricing is fully negotiated and implementation is long
- Complexity and training needs exceed smaller carriers
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
SabreSonic, part of Sabre airline solutions, serves scheduled carriers of many sizes with reservations, inventory control, passenger name record management, revenue management integration and disruption recovery. Multi currency and multi language support, plus GDS connectivity, make it a natural fit for carriers selling across markets. Its long operating history also means deep documentation, trained staff availability and a partner ecosystem that smaller vendors cannot match.
Reviewers note legacy interfaces in some modules and longer customization cycles than cloud native rivals. Pricing is quote based, with setup and volume terms negotiated per carrier. For a full service airline that values reliability, global distribution and a proven record over the newest interface, SabreSonic is a safe enterprise choice.
What we like- Mature reservations, ticketing and check in for scheduled carriers
- Strong GDS connectivity and revenue management links
- Global support and partner network
Watch out for- Some modules show a legacy interface
- Customization can be time consuming
- Premium enterprise pricing
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Travelport belongs in this list for a different reason from Altea and SabreSonic: it is the distribution layer that puts airline content in front of sellers. Travelport+ gives airlines and travel sellers modern APIs, NDC content, traditional fares and retailing tools in one platform, reaching agencies, online travel agencies and corporate buyers worldwide. An airline that already runs a PSS but needs wider indirect sales, or a seller building a booking portal, will deal with Travelport directly.
The distinction matters. Travelport does not replace an airline internal reservations system for inventory hosting and departure control in the way Altea or amelia do. Its value is reach, content breadth and retailing speed. Commercial terms involve developer access fees and negotiated rates in published comparisons, so budget on a sales conversation rather than a list price.
What we like- Travelport+ platform with modern APIs for retailing
- Broad agency, OTA and corporate distribution
- NDC content alongside traditional fares
Watch out for- Primarily a distribution platform, not a standalone airline PSS
- Commercial terms are negotiated and vary by market
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Navitaire, now part of Amadeus, launched the low cost carrier model and still shapes it. Its platform emphasizes retailing: fast offer creation, ancillary sales, flexible pricing models and direct digital storefronts, with real time analytics to adjust offers quickly. Low cost carriers that live on direct sales and ancillary revenue get a system designed around that business model rather than adapted from a legacy full service PSS.
The trade off is model fit. Navitaire is less oriented to complex alliance, codeshare and interline operations than Altea, and its Amadeus ownership means a buyer is still inside the Amadeus ecosystem even when choosing a separate brand. For a low cost, hybrid or leisure carrier that prioritizes speed to market and retailing control, Navitaire is the strongest specialist pick.
What we like- Built for low cost retailing speed and efficiency
- Cloud native platform with open technology
- Strong ancillary and offer management
Watch out for- Owned by Amadeus, so independence questions arise for some buyers
- Less suited to complex alliance and interline models
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
InteliSys amelia is a fully cloud based passenger service system built for regional, hybrid, leisure and startup airlines. It covers reservations, inventory, retailing, distribution, departure control and cargo in one platform, with ticketed, ticketless and hybrid models so a carrier can mix GDS sales with direct ticketless sales. IATA NDC certification and connections to more than 500 online travel agencies and metasearch partners give a small carrier distribution reach that once required a legacy PSS.
Support is a selling point in customer accounts, with direct access to engineers and 24/7 help, plus implementation timelines far shorter than enterprise systems. The vendor is smaller than Amadeus or Sabre, which matters for a carrier that needs a global partner network in every market. For a regional or hybrid carrier that wants modern retailing without enterprise overhead, amelia is the best balanced choice.
What we like- Fully cloud based PSS trusted by 65+ airlines
- Ticketed, ticketless and hybrid models in one platform
- IATA NDC certification and 500+ OTA connections
Watch out for- Smaller vendor than Amadeus or Sabre
- Brand recognition is lower in some markets
#6
Videcom
Best for: Regional airlines needing reservations plus departure control
Visit videcom.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Videcom designs, hosts and delivers reservation systems and departure control for airlines of all sizes, with a focus on regional carriers. The standard solution combines inventory hosting, schedule and fares management, IATA e-ticketing, internet booking, GDS distribution, codeshare and interline connections, plus an integrated departure control system for check in, seat maps, boarding passes and bag tags. That combination means a regional airline can run reservations and airport operations on one vendor.
Published comparisons describe Videcom pricing as usage based with no license fee, which suits a small carrier with seasonal volume better than a large fixed license. The platform interface feels older than Navitaire or amelia, and the ecosystem is smaller than Amadeus or Sabre. For a regional airline that needs a proven, compliant system without enterprise cost, Videcom is a practical and often overlooked option.
What we like- IATA compliant reservations, e-ticketing and departure control in one system
- GDS, codeshare and interline connectivity
- Usage based model with no license fee in published comparisons
Watch out for- Interface and brand feel older than cloud native rivals
- Smaller partner ecosystem than the major PSS vendors
#7
Hitit Crane
Best for: Growing carriers needing a full PSS
Visit hitit.com
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
Hitit, founded in 1994 in Turkiye, provides the Crane suite of airline and travel IT solutions covering reservations, inventory, ticketing, departure control, loyalty, revenue management and more. It serves airlines of many types worldwide, from startups to established carriers, which gives it breadth across business models. A growing carrier that expects to add routes, partnerships and loyalty features over time can stay on one vendor rather than migrating as it scales.
Hitit is less prominent in North America than Amadeus, Sabre or Navitaire, so local partner and staff familiarity may be thinner in that market. Pricing is negotiated and implementation scope depends on modules chosen. For a carrier in Europe, the Middle East, Africa or Asia looking for a full PSS with a long track record outside the two giants, Crane deserves a shortlist place.
What we like- Full PSS family from reservations to departure control and loyalty
- Serves all carrier types from startups to flag carriers
- Long operating history since 1994
Watch out for- Less visible in North American markets
- Pricing and implementation detail require a sales engagement
Starting priceSee website
Free planNo
GO7, through its AeroCRS passenger service system, targets small, regional and startup airlines that need to launch fast. Customer cases cite full PSS implementation in about 30 days and migration in seven weeks, far quicker than enterprise timelines. The platform combines bookings, inventory, ticketing, payments and retailing, with distribution through GDS, online travel agencies and virtual interlining, plus interline ticketing support that helps a small carrier sell beyond its own network.
The branding note matters for buyers researching the product: the AeroCRS homepage now presents as GO7, the growth platform for airlines, with AeroCRS as its PSS. The product and its airline customers remain, but procurement teams should confirm they are contracting for the AeroCRS PSS within GO7. For a startup airline that needs to sell tickets in weeks, not quarters, GO7 AeroCRS is the fastest route in this list.
What we like- PSS implementation in weeks rather than months in customer cases
- Distribution through GDS, OTAs and virtual interlining
- Payments and retailing in one platform
Watch out for- Homepage now presents as GO7, so AeroCRS branding is less distinct
- Smaller scale than the major PSS vendors
How we chose
We compared vendor product documentation, industry comparisons and public reviews, and we opened each homepage to confirm the product exists and matches its name. We favored systems that actually host reservations and inventory (a true PSS) plus distribution platforms that airlines use to sell, over generic booking engines. Prices are quote based across this category, so every tool is marked See website rather than given an invented figure. Three tools were replaced during checks because their homepages could not be fetched for verification: Radixx, Takeflite and IBS Software.
What an airline should check before choosing
Start with your business model, since PSS fit follows model more than feature count. A network carrier needs alliance, codeshare and interline depth. A low cost carrier needs retailing speed, ancillary control and direct sales efficiency. A regional carrier needs a simple, compliant system that launches fast and costs in line with seasonal volume. A charter or cargo operator needs different modules again. Shortlist only systems proven with carriers of your model and size.
Count total cost, not license alone
Quote based pricing hides the real total. Ask for implementation fees, data migration, training, certification (including IATA and GDS certification), distribution segment fees, NDC integration, support tiers and charges for extra environments. A low license fee with high distribution costs can exceed a higher license fee with better direct sales tools. Get a three year total cost model at your expected booking volume before signing.
Test distribution and disruption handling
A reservations system earns its keep on bad days as much as good ones. Test how rebooking, refunds, exchanges and involuntary changes work across direct, GDS and interline channels, and how departure control handles disruptions at the airport. Confirm NDC content, ancillary sales and loyalty integration work end to end, not just in a demo. Ask reference carriers of similar size about go live time, support response and upgrade disruption, since those answers predict your first year better than a feature list.
Frequently asked questions
What is an airline passenger service system?
A passenger service system is the core software an airline uses to manage reservations, inventory, fares, ticketing, check in and departure control. It holds the record of who is booked on which flight, what they paid, and what services they hold. Airlines sell through it directly and indirectly via travel agencies, online travel agencies and global distribution systems.
How much does airline reservations software cost?
Almost all airline PSS pricing is negotiated, based on booking volume, modules, markets and implementation scope. Published comparisons point to setup costs in the thousands for smaller systems and far higher totals for enterprise PSS implementations, plus ongoing distribution and support fees. Expect a sales engagement and a multi year contract, not a monthly self serve price.
What is the difference between a PSS and a GDS?
A PSS is the airline internal system that hosts inventory and reservations. A GDS (global distribution system) like Amadeus, Sabre or Travelport distributes airline content to travel sellers worldwide. An airline needs a PSS to run its operation and GDS connections to sell indirectly, and many large vendors provide both layers.
How long does it take to implement a new reservations system?
Timelines range from about 30 days for a small carrier on GO7 AeroCRS to many months for a network carrier on Amadeus Altea or SabreSonic. Migration complexity, data cleanup, staff training, GDS certification and departure control integration drive the schedule. A realistic plan includes parallel running and a disruption playbook for go live week.
Do small airlines need a full PSS?
A very small charter or startup operation can sometimes start with a booking engine and manual processes, but any scheduled carrier selling through agencies, OTAs or interline partners needs a real PSS for inventory control, ticketing and departure control. Cloud PSS options from InteliSys, Videcom and GO7 lower the entry cost enough that most scheduled startups should adopt one from launch.
What is NDC and why does it matter for reservations?
NDC (New Distribution Capability) is an IATA standard that lets airlines distribute richer offers (fares, bundles, ancillaries, images) through third parties using modern APIs instead of legacy fare filing alone. It matters because it gives airlines retailing control and gives sellers richer content. When shortlisting, confirm NDC certification level and which partners already consume the airline NDC content.
Sources we checked (8)
- https://www.amadeus.com/pricing
- https://www.sabre.com/pricing
- https://www.travelport.com/pricing
- https://www.navitaire.com/pricing
- https://www.intelisysaviation.com/pricing
- https://www.videcom.com/pricing
- https://www.hitit.com/pricing
- https://www.aerocrs.com/pricing
Is your product missing or out of date?
We review this list regularly. Vendors can request a listing, send updated pricing or ask about featured placement.
Shihab Mia · Founder, Rankite
Shihab has 5+ years in B2B and SaaS SEO. He writes Rankite's software buying guides from pricing pages, documentation and public user reviews. More about Shihab.