With a network of mainland travel agents in place, Abacus has secured a new channel for airlines to access this vast and expanding outbound market.
SINGAPORE – Further to receiving Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) certification in June, Abacus achieved the milestone of becoming the first foreign global distribution system to issue air tickets using its innovative technology, customized for China.
With a network of mainland travel agents in place, Abacus has secured a new channel for airlines to access this vast and expanding outbound market.
Flights from the capital with award-winning Etihad Airways were chosen from among four initial carriers available for Abacus travel agents to book from China. The content and fares of many more foreign airlines will soon be added for the benefit of those familiar with Abacus systems, which are deployed at over 20,000 locations across the Asia Pacific region.
“Etihad Airways is one of 25 major airlines joining Abacus in meeting demand from our expanding mainland distribution grid,” said Robert Bailey, Abacus President and CEO. “There is space for a complementary foreign distribution platform and we are encouraged by the level of interest among international aviation brands and local agents, especially now that Abacus has shown that BSP compliant transactions are happening.”
Beijing China Travel Air Transportation Company Limited (CTBA) issued the inaugural tickets using the industry leading GDS desktop system, Abacus WorkSpace. Xiang Wei, General Manager of CTBA said, “We are proud to be part of an initiative of this scale, widening the market for our outbound travellers and aligning us more closely with international best practice.”
Bailey added, “We congratulate CTBA and Etihad Airways on the first of many transactions and thank the CAAC and IATA for their support in making this breakthrough possible.”
Abacus, Asia Pacific’s leading travel technology company has been operating in China since 1995 when it began recruiting specialist teams in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Nanjing and Chengdu to customise its solutions for mainland users. Its systems are now installed at travel agencies in many different locations, as part of the wider regional network.
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