Regional Round-Up
Abacus wins IATA BSP approval in China
April 1st 2014
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has given Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) certification for China to Global Distribution System (GDS), Singapore –based Abacus International. Read More » The decision, announced last month, makes Abacus the first foreign GDS on the Mainland permitted to sell, report and remit fares and travel product payments of IATA accredited passenger sales agents. Earlier this year, China fragmented the monopoly of Mainland GDS, Travelsky, when it announced selected foreign GDS would be allowed to offer services to the more than 90 foreign carriers flying into China. The GDS also would be permitted to market services through a designated group of Mainland based tour operators and travel agencies. Abacus is owned by U.S. based Sabre and a consortium of Asia-Pacific airlines including All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, China Airlines, EVA Airways, Philippine Airlines and Singapore Airlines.
At the UATP Airline Distribution conference in Singapore last month, several GDS reported that low-cost carriers are developing interest in GDS product offerings, a new component in LCC strategy that was not part of the original budget carrier business model.
