Published August 29, 2025 by Reginald Persimmons
Alexey Yanshin is one of the leading ambassadors of digitalization in the Central Asian travel industry. For more than eight years, he led Sabre Travel Network in the region, driving the implementation of cutting-edge systems such as SabreSonic PSS and Sabre Red 360, which unlocked new opportunities for airlines and travel agencies alike.
Alexey Yanshin’s exceptional achievements have been widely recognized by the professional community. With 65 contenders vying for the title, the jury selected Yanshin for his extraordinary impact on the industry.
At the prestigious Business Leaders of Central Asia competition, Alexey Yanshin won first place in the Travel Innovation Leader category. One of the most competitive nominations, it drew 65 contenders, with the jury selecting only the very best. In an exclusive interview with our editorial team, Yanshin shared his reflections on the award and his vision for the future of digitalization in the industry.
– Alexey, what does winning the Business Leaders of Central Asia award mean to you personally?
– This award is a recognition of my contribution to transforming the travel industry in Central Asia through the implementation of advanced technologies. It is important to me that experts and the business community have acknowledged the significance of the solutions we have put into practice. It confirms that my work has a tangible impact on the industry and is valued at the international level.
Tools such as the SabreSonic Passenger Service System (PSS) have enabled airlines to achieve deep automation of business processes — from managing bookings and inventory to dynamic pricing and the personalization of the passenger experience. Meanwhile, the Sabre Red 360 platform, highlighted in the competition, has transformed the way both corporate travel agencies and OTAs interact with clients, providing access to a broad pool of content and automating ticket issuance, refunds, and exchanges.
Under my leadership, we developed a strategy for localizing and implementing these solutions in Central Asia. I was responsible for adapting the technologies to regional specifics, training teams, and building an ecosystem that not only deployed Sabre products but also established them as an industry standard.
– You have made a significant contribution to the digitalization of air travel in Central Asia. What mechanisms enabled this?
– Back in 2017, when I took the helm of Sabre in Central Asia, the share of tickets purchased online — through airline websites, online platforms, and aggregators — did not exceed 20%. The vast majority of tickets were bought offline: people visited ticket offices in person, stood in queues, and if they needed to return or reissue a ticket, they had to repeat the entire process. About six years later, the situation had changed almost completely — over 70% of airline tickets are now sold online. This shift was enabled through the comprehensive methodology I implemented: a holistic approach to training agencies, integrating APIs and digital tools, and building a system of collaboration with key market players. The disappearance of long queues at ticket offices and the overall digitalization of the industry stand as a clear evidence of the significant contribution of my team and me.
Both platforms are professional, high-tech software solutions that support millions of digital transactions taking place daily in the travel industry. However, they are complex technological platforms — they cannot simply be bought off the shelf and used immediately. Implementing such comprehensive solutions is possible only through a methodical approach, gradually integrating them into the ecosystems of airlines and travel agencies. I personally oversaw the implementation process, from migration preparation to post-project optimization. I was responsible not only for localizing the technologies but also for developing strategies tailored to regional specifics, training teams, migrating systems, integrating APIs, providing post-implementation support, and ensuring continuous optimization.
It was this systematic approach, built by my team and me, that became the foundation for scalable solutions in the region. Ultimately, this work delivered the result that everyone now experiences: the ability to purchase a ticket conveniently through a website or app.
– At the beginning of 2025, you became head of Sabre’s Central and Eastern Europe division. What are the specifics of this market?
– I now oversee a large macro-region — in addition to Central and Eastern European countries such as Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Serbia, I continue to supervise the implementation and support of our products in Central Asia. Furthermore, my responsibilities have expanded to include the Caucasus region — Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Georgia.
In Europe, travel agencies now demand more than simply connecting to travel providers. They are looking for integration with AI/ML solutions, automation of cross-segment analytics, and advanced offer management. Sabre already has strong capabilities in these areas, and the corporation continues to advance deep digitalization initiatives. Our focus is on developing solutions that address market fragmentation. All travel agencies face this challenge: analyzing hundreds of airline and aggregator websites. Travel professionals sift through enormous amounts of data in search of the most attractive offers, often from disparate sources, and they are looking for tools to simplify this process. The platforms of the future should give travel professionals unified access to content, regardless of its source — whether NDC, EDIFACT, LCC, or direct channels — thereby reducing operational workload.
– Recently, as a distinguished expert with extensive experience in the travel industry, you became a mentor at the Skolkovo IT hub. Who approaches you, and what do they seek?
– Since my experience spans both theory and practice, I provide guidance not only on technical matters and also on structuring business processes.
Primarily, I am approached by IT startups developing products in the travel segment — from online booking platforms to solutions for automating the operations of agencies or small airlines. My role is to provide an objective assessment of the viability of their ideas in terms of business practice, scalability, and potential integration with leading IT platforms.
As I mentioned earlier, the market is becoming increasingly global and is striving to overcome fragmentation. Digital tools make life easier for everyone: airlines, agencies, and travelers alike. Modern technologies help optimize processes to the fullest, allowing companies to increase their profitability while simultaneously raising the quality of their services.
The experience I gained in Central Asia I now apply across the entire macro-region. For me, it is important not only to implement technologies but also to develop strategies for adapting them to the specifics of different markets. I am confident that this approach will enable the travel industry to reach a new level of integration and efficiency.