GDS players to woo low-cost carriers

New Delhi: If you happen to book a ticket on a low-cost carrier (LCC) via a travel agent, it is likely that you may not get the best deal. This is thanks to LCCs lack of investment in appropriate software that can tell in real time the booking status across the country. Something that the full service carriers have. And the LCCs don’t invest in it as this could jack up ticket price by $1 to $5 — small change, but enough to drive away some cost conscious flyers.
However, things are set to change as Global Distribution System (GDS) — the computer-based reservation system — players have geared up to woo LCCs. To begin with, Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) will be soon launching its GDS aimed at LCCs.
For travel agents, the system will be free. The organisation plans to bring the cost down by cutting overheads such as incentives to travel agents. GDS players, such as Amadeus and Abacus, which have Indian full-service carriers as their clients are now trying to develop a model for LCCs. Amadeus is developing a software called iposs, which will converge the content for full-service and low-cost carriers.
Globally, Amadeus has LCCs such as Air Asia, Malaysia, and Jetstar Asia, Singapore, as its clients Analysts believe that the next one year will witness at least few, if not all, LCCs getting onto the GDS platform as it caters to small and big travel agents (online as well as offline).
30/04/07 Vishakha Talreja/Economic Times

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Categories: Foreign Apr 2007, Low Cost General Apr 2007, New Apr 2007