Garuda brings Abacus system to Indonesia
Garuda brings Abacus system to Indonesia
JAKARTA (JP): The national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia
launched yesterday its new subsidiary, PT Abacus Distribution
System (Indonesia), after acquiring a two-percent stake in the
Singapore-based Abacus company early last year.
Garuda, operating domestic and international flights, was
formerly a participating party in Abacus, which provides
comprehensive computerized reservation system (CRS) services.
Abacus' services include an international fare database,
specially tailored for the Asia-Pacific market. Bookings can be
made on over 400 airlines through the system. Besides the
airlines themselves, travel agents can book and gain access to
information on hundreds of other airlines, hotels and car rental
companies.
Abacus is jointly owned by a number of air carriers, including
ANA of Japan, Cathay Pacific, China Airlines, EVA Air, Hong Kong
Dragon Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Philippine Airlines, Royal
Brunei, SilkAir, Singapore Airlines and Worldspan Global Travel
Information Services. Worldspan is a large CRS in the United
States, jointly owned by Abacus Distribution Systems, Delta
Airlines, Northwest Airlines and Trans World Airlines.
Garuda concluded its US$4 million deal with Abacus on Jan. 20
last year, becoming the ninth national marketing company within
the Asia-Pacific region which is authorized to market Abacus
products.
The other authorized companies are located in Australia, Hong
Kong, Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, the Philippines and
South Korea.
According to Abacus Indonesia's acting president, Sunarjo,
Garuda is now authorized to sell Abacus' products to travel
agents in Indonesia.
He said about 34 Indonesian travel agents were already
subscribing to Abacus.
"We expect some 200 subscribers by the end of this year," he
said, adding that by subscribing to Abacus travel agents would
gain access to the reservation information of about 155 airlines.
He said that the schedules, fares and seat capacity of the
airlines would be accessible to subscribers.
Other information available through the system includes
worldwide details of 147 hotels, 50 rental car firms and tourist
packages offered by 3,700 travel agents, he said.
Garuda expects Abacus Indonesia to help increase the number of
foreign visitors arriving in the country. (icn)