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)