Abacus has become the first CRS to win access to the vast Chinese market in a deal that should give the Singapore-based company a lead in developing a full-scale CRS for China. The Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) awarded the contract in mid-October after a three year battle that saw Abacus beat Sabre and Amadeus.
The agreement initially covers a technical link between Abacus and CAAC's Manage- ment Information System, which provides the reservation system for 25 Chinese airlines with a coverage of 3,000 travel agencies and 10,000 terminals. The joint venture is likely to be upgraded into a full-scale national marketing company.
The pact is a major coup for Abacus, cementing its claim to be 'a truly Asian CRS' and giving it access to the world's fastest growing market which catered to 34 million domestic travellers in 1994. Since 1991, Abacus has had participating carrier agreements with Air China, China Eastern and China Southern. Abacus' JV with Japanese CRS Infini, and its ability to handle Chinese characters on-screen, has played a major role in clinching the technical link.
William Liu, Abacus president and CEO, says the CAAC is likely to link with at least two other systems to handle distribution in both Europe and the US. However, he claims that the link will not be 'to the same degree as ours'.
Meanwhile, Liu says Abacus will establish a marketing link in Thailand by the end of 1995 but will not give details. The link is set to stir up a row with Thai Airways International which is linked with Amadeus and is seeking to keep out all other CRSs until 1998.
Imtiaz Muqbil
Source: Airline Business
