Sky Bird Travel Tours

What Sky Bird Travel Tours does

Sky Bird Travel & Tours, Inc., founded in 1976 by Arvin Shah and headquartered in Southfield, Michigan, is a privately held, family-owned airline consolidator and travel technology provider serving B2B travel agents and agencies across North America and select international markets. The company purchases airline tickets in bulk at discounted net fares from 90+ airline partners and resells them through its proprietary WINGS Booking Platform, where registered agents can mark up fares and earn weekly ACH commissions across airfare, hotels, insurance (25%), tours (8-12%), car rentals, and group travel. WINGS is a visual, point-and-click booking engine — distinct from traditional command-line GDS interfaces — that integrates with Sabre, Amadeus, Worldspan, and Travelport GDS systems and now offers NDC content from 10 major carriers as well.

Supporting revenue lines include the Opteticket multi-GDS PNR importer (launched August 2024 for Sabre with Amadeus support planned), the Sky Vacations FIT tour division, a dedicated Umrah pilgrimage service, group travel for 10+ passengers, student travel discounts, AIG Travel Guard insurance sales, and Slice Pay payment solutions. The company employs approximately 180 people across 10 U.S. offices (Detroit, Atlanta, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco/Bay Area, Seattle, Washington DC) plus international offices in Toronto and Vancouver (Canada), Manila (Philippines), and India.

Commercially Sky Bird is a channel-partner model with no consumer-direct retail: free agent registration on WINGS, weekly commission payments, 24/7 multilingual support (25+ languages), inside sales onboarding, and quarterly webinars drive agent acquisition and retention. Distribution is reinforced by GDS integrations, the skyAPI, the B2C WINGS Widget for partner websites, and an industry-association footprint including IATA, ARC, IATAN, ASTA, CLIA, and PATA. The firm has held the Travvy Award Gold for Best Airline Consolidator in 2017, 2018, 2024, and 2025 and reports annual airline ticket issuance above $700M USD.

Name

Sky Bird Travel Tours

Legal name

Sky Bird Travel & Tours, Inc.

Website

https://skybirdtravel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sky Bird Travel & Tours is a U.S. airline consolidator founded in 1976 that purchases tickets in bulk from 90+ airline partners and redistributes them to B2B travel agents and agencies via its proprietary WINGS Booking Platform, earning weekly commissions across airfare, hotels, insurance, tours, and group travel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Airline Ticket Consolidation

NAICS

Travel Agencies (561510), Air Transportation (481)

SIC

Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Air Travel Booking Platforms (Flights) (BPAMAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Charter Flight Brokers & Air Charter Ticketing Agents (THAKALAK)

Keywords

• Airline ticket consolidation
• Travel booking platform
• GDS distribution services
• Travel wholesaler solutions
• Airline commission programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Southfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices14 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Airline Ticket Commissions: Travel agents book airline tickets through WINGS or GDS and earn commission on each transaction. Sky Bird acts as airline consolidator purchasing bulk tickets at discounted rates and reselling to agents who mark up prices.
2. Travel Insurance Commission: 25% commission on travel insurance bookings made through WINGS platform, powered by AIG Travel Guard.
3. Hotel Commission: 15% commission on pre-paid hotel bookings through WINGS platform with access to 1 million+ hotels globally.
4. Tour Commission: 8-12% commission on customized tour packages through Sky Vacations division.
5. Car Rental Commission: Commission earned on car rental bookings from trusted industry brands through WINGS platform.
6. Umrah Package Sales: Complete Umrah pilgrimage packages including visa assistance, airfare, transportation, tours, accommodations, and travel insurance with bundled pricing.
7. Group Travel Services: Group booking services for 10+ passengers with locked-in rates and itinerary assistance. Deposits of $50 per person for domestic and $100 for international groups.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Sky Bird Travel Tours is an airline consolidator that purchases bulk tickets at discounted net rates from 90+ airline partners and resells them to travel agents, who earn commissions on each booking. Travel agents access inventory and book through Sky Bird's proprietary WINGS Booking Platform, the Opteticket multi-GDS PNR importer, or directly via Sabre, Amadeus, and Worldspan GDS systems, with additional commissions on hotels, car rentals, tours, and travel insurance bundled into the same transactions.

Product overview

Sky Bird Travel Tours operates a platform-plus-services model built around the WINGS Booking Platform as its core product, complemented by specialized tools and services. The main WINGS platform is a visual, point-and-click booking engine providing access to airfares from 90+ airline partners, alongside hotel, car rental, activities, and insurance bookings with commission management. Supporting this are Opteticket (PNR importer for GDS workflow) and Chakra (multi-GDS solution portal). The company also operates distinct service divisions including Group Travel for 10+ passengers, Sky Vacations (customized FIT tours), Umrah Pilgrimages, Student Travel Discounts, and Travel Insurance through AIG. Additional services include Slice Pay and airline-specific NDC content integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sky Vacations: Sky Bird's FIT (Free Independent Travel) division offering customized tour packages to destinations including Asia, Europe, Americas, Middle East, and Africa. Features curated itineraries including South Africa tours, Tanzania safaris, Egypt tours, Morocco experiences, Hawaiian vacations, and Greek island packages.
• WINGS Booking Platform
• Opteticket
• NDC on WINGS

Products and services

• WINGS Booking Platform Proprietary online booking and management system for travel agents that provides a visual, point-and-click interface to search, book, ticket, and manage flights, hotels, cars, activities, and travel insurance in a single transaction. Connects to multiple GDS systems and provides access to net fares from 90+ airline partners, with built-in markup settings and weekly ACH commission payments.
• Opteticket Multi-GDS solution that allows travel agents who prefer to book via GDS systems to import PNRs from Sabre, streamline the ticketing workflow, reduce manual errors, and view commission earnings in real time.
• Chakra Multi-GDS solution platform offered as an alternative entry point to Sky Bird's booking inventory alongside the WINGS Booking Platform.
• Group Travel Dedicated booking service for group travel of 10 or more passengers, covering study abroad, volunteer trips, religious pilgrimages, and wellness retreats. Features locked-in group rates, itinerary assistance, and volume purchasing power, with deposits of $50 per person for domestic groups and $100 for international groups.
• Sky Vacations Customized tour package division offering curated FIT itineraries to Asia, Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa, including packaged tours to South Africa, Tanzania Safari, Egypt, Morocco, Hawaii, Greece, and Iceland, with up to 12% commission for travel agents.
• Umrah Pilgrimages Comprehensive Umrah pilgrimage service bundling visa assistance, airfare, ground transportation, tours, accommodations, travel insurance, and meet & greet services at Jeddah and Madinah airports, with tailored packages and specialized assistance for elderly and disabled travelers.
• Student Travel Discounts Discount program offering special student fares on international flights with access to dedicated travel advisors and destination information for Peru, Spain, Ireland, India, Greece, and Iceland.
• Travel Insurance AIG Travel Guard travel insurance product sold through the WINGS platform, covering trip cancellation, medical evacuation, and lost luggage, with travel agents earning 25% commission on each policy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $700 million USD in airline tickets issued annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration9 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Airline Partners (90+)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSky Bird serves as airline consolidator/wholesaler purchasing bulk tickets at discounted rates from airlines including: American Airlines, Delta, United, Air India, Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad Airways, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines, Lufthansa, British Airways, and 80+ others. Airlines benefit from volume sales while Sky Bird provides agents access to competitive net fares.
• NDC AirlinescoreTechnology or IntegrationNDC (New Distribution Capability) content from American Airlines, Copa Airlines, Finnair, LATAM Airlines, Singapore Airlines, British Airlines, Emirates, Iberia, Lufthansa Group, and United Airlines. Enables access to richer content, personalized offers, and real-time pricing through WINGS platform.
• Aero MexicocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRecognized as Top Sales Company Worldwide and 1 of 5 Strongest in the USA in 2023 and 2024. Partnership for air ticket distribution through Sky Bird's agent network.
• GDS Systems (Sabre, Amadeus, Worldspan)coreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Global Distribution Systems for travel agents to access and book airfares. Sabre, Amadeus, and Worldspan (Travelport) systems used for fare distribution and booking.
• TravelportcoreTechnology or IntegrationPlatinum Partnership for 45th Anniversary recognition. GDS technology provider enabling Sky Bird's booking platform and agent access.
• Singapore AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOutstanding Sales Achievement recognition in 2019. Partnership for air ticket distribution with emphasis on Singapore's premium positioning.
• Delta Air LinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMultiple recognitions including Best Consolidator Transatlantic Performance (2017), Best Transatlantic Performer (2016), and Agency Elite status. Strong partnership for transatlantic routes.
• EmiratescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel Agent of the Year recognition in 2016-2017 and Outstanding Achievement Award for Sales Performance in 2007-2008. Strong partnership for Middle East routes.
• Turkish AirlinescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBest Supporting Consolidator Plaque of Appreciation (2017), Star Performer Award (2013). Partnership for Turkey and connecting routes.
• Qatar AirwayscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBest Performing Airline Consolidator recognition in 2011 and 2013. Strong partnership for Middle East and long-haul routes.
• AIG Travel GuardcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTravel insurance partner providing products sold through WINGS platform. Sky Bird agents earn 25% commission on travel insurance sales with access to Travel Guard for quotes and policy management.
• CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry membership for cruise industry representation and marketing support.
• PATA (Pacific Asia Travel Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry membership for Pacific Asia travel promotion and networking.
• ASTA (American Society of Travel Advisors)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry membership for travel advisor advocacy and professional development.
• IATAN (International Airlines Travel Agent Network)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry accreditation and membership for travel agents operating internationally.
• IATA (International Air Transport Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association membership for airline industry standards and accreditation.
• ARC (Airlines Reporting Corporation)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry accreditation and reporting services for travel agents and airlines.
• MMSDC (Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMinority business certification and supplier diversity advocacy in Michigan.
• African Tourism BoardminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTourism partnership for African destination marketing and Safari in Tanzania package endorsement.
• Adventure Travel Trade AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustry association for adventure travel operators and destination marketing.
• European Tourism Association (ETO)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEuropean tourism partnership for destination marketing and tour package support.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Travelport: Travelport is a global GDS provider (Worldspan/Apollo/Galileo) integrated into WINGS; as a broader incumbent in air distribution, it competes with Sky Bird's wholesale model at the platform layer.
• BCD Travel: BCD Travel is a top-tier global corporate travel management company that competes for the same travel-agent-driven air booking volumes that flow through consolidators like Sky Bird.
• American Express Global Business Travel: Amex GBT is a global travel management giant that books air, hotel, and ancillary services for corporate clients at scale — a broader incumbent operating in the same consolidated air distribution space.
• Sabre Corporation: Sabre operates one of the major GDS systems that Sky Bird integrates via WINGS; Sabre's travel agency marketplace and air distribution platform is a broader competitive layer over Sky Bird's consolidation business.

Direct peers

• Direct Travel: Direct Travel is a US travel management company serving corporate and leisure clients with agency services and consolidated air/hotel inventory — closely comparable to Sky Bird's agent-served model.
• WebBeds: WebBeds is a global B2B travel distributor/acquirer of hotel and ground inventory, with a similar wholesale distribution model to Sky Bird's tour and hotel consolidation arm.
• Frosch Travel: Frosch is a US luxury and leisure travel agency network with consolidator relationships, competing for the same independent and home-based agent base that Sky Bird serves.
• HotelBeds: HotelBeds is one of the largest B2B bed-bank and ancillary distributors globally, operating a wholesale intermediary model analogous to Sky Bird's consolidator role in airfare.
• Omega World Travel: Omega World Travel is a large US travel management company with a consolidator/wholesale division, similar in scale and agent-channel focus to Sky Bird.
• Travelong: Travelong is a long-standing US-based airline consolidator and wholesaler selling bulk-purchased tickets to travel agents, directly competing with Sky Bird's core airfare consolidation business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SkyBirdTravel
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLvAOpuIB38WGqmUx-GDzsA
• Facebookfacebook.com/161374767283153
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/355850
• Instagraminstagram.com/sky_birdtravel

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sky Bird Travel Tours