Sabre To Host Another Asian GDS
<B> Sabre To Host Another Asian GDS</B>
By Mary Ann McNulty
In a deal that will nearly double its location count in Asia in the summer of 2000, Sabre last month announced plans to host the Infini core GDS, which currently is operated by All Nippon Airways and used by 6,500 agency locations.
Infini is 60 percent owned by All Nippon and 40 percent owned by Abacus, of which Sabre owns 35 percent. Abacus also uses the Sabre core to serve about 7,000 agency locations. In addition, Sabre has about 4,800 other locations in the Far East.
Company executives report that the global partnership of Infini, Abacus and Sabre will allow the three GDSs to leverage their resources and their research and development efforts. For Infini users today, the system migration also is expected to offer a more robust booking tool that includes automated access to carriers and flight schedules, as well as automated credit card authorization. Agents also will have access to seat maps and frequent flyer functionality.
"Infini will invest over ¥3 billion in this project in order to develop a new system which satisfies the unique needs of the Japanese market while delivering the cutting-edge technology of Sabre," said Osamu Nagahata, chairman and president of Infini. "After the migration, we will be able to align ourselves with the growing trend in individual travel by utilizing Sabre's high-level links with airlines, hotels and other suppliers."
Abacus International president and CEO William Liu said that by using a common core system, "we will be able to better serve multinational travel agencies and offer new products and travel technology solutions through joint developments."
Singapore-based Abacus International is the Asia-Pacific's largest GDS It is 65 percent owned by a holding company of 11 Asian airlines.
Two years ago, Abacus shocked its host and minority owner Worldspan by announcing plans to switch to Sabre, its new investor. Worldspan and Abacus relinquished their minority ownership in each other as part of the separation. Although the parties planned a phased migration to Sabre, Worldspan forced the new owners to migrate in one weekend.
Learning from that experience, Sabre plans to migrate on a fixed date, but will have much more time to plan, train and design modifications. The Japanese market will demand that Sabre be able to issue e-tickets through the bank settlement plans, add airlines and offer direct connect availability, said Mark Meader, newly named vice president for Asia-Pacific business management.
While it still will be up to Infini, Abacus, Sabre or the other regional GDS, Axess, to sell the GDS to travel agencies, the movement to one central host just might make it easier for multinationals to service customers, Meader said.
"Technology partnerships such as this are a key element of our global growth strategy," said Chris Vasiliou, Sabre's senior vice president of Asia-Pacific.