Beijing – Abacus has become the first foreign global distribution system (GDS) to serve mainland China, the world’s largest outbound travel market, with the Civil Aviation Administration of China’s (CAAC) approval of licenses for its travel agent applicants.

The company, which has operated on the mainland since 1995, described the latest development as a milestone as it gives China’s trade a wider choice of carriers and content to scale their international business.

“This is step change in an already rapidly expanding sector,” said Abacus President and CEO, Robert Bailey. “Progress is now being made to include guaranteed automated fares from over 90 foreign airlines operating in China today. The vision of the CAAC in approving these licenses will broaden access to travel products for millions of mainland travellers.”

Bailey credits the breakthrough in China to a collaborative strategy, based on knowledge transfer and technological integration with mainland partners.

The company has established offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu to facilitate the exchange, and learn the local practices and protocols.

Abacus users will receive training on the new technology, learning how to present the brand attributes of each additional airline and share the multi-platform apps, which their customers will also be able to adopt to make reservations for themselves. Source: webintravel