China sets up GDS air ticket system

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

. 

 ◆ China sets up GDS air ticket system

As the regrouping process of China's major airlines experiences air turbulence, a pivotal project for the aviation industry -- the construction of ticket distribution system -- is having a smooth flight.

The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), the aviation industry watchdog, announced that a Global Distribution System (GDS) for ticket sales had been established in China to provide all-round ticket services to consumers.

Air travellers in China can now easily get air tickets to any airport city in the world by just a phone or Internet call through the GDS, which connects ticket sales systems with more than 400 airlines across the world.

China's GDS was launched in 1999, and put into a trial operation this year. The whole system is scheduled to start formal operations next year.

Contrary from the debt-plagued domestic air carriers, the ticket distribution sector has been experiencing healthy development in recent years.

The Travelsky Technology Company, which developed China's GDS project, was successfully listed on the Hong Kong stock market in February last year, becoming one of a few successful businesses within China's aviation industry.

Most domestic air carriers are said to have been involved in the investment of the GDS project. Through the system, domestic airlines can expect to easily sell their tickets to passengers in the world with relatively low costs.

Vice-minister of CAAC Yang Guoqing described the GDS project as one of the most important steps within the industry in response to the foreign competition following China's entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in November. China promised to fully open the air ticket distribution system to foreign companies in its WTO commitment.

Yang said China's GDS now provides domestic airlines an excellent ticket-sales platform, which, in comparison with foreign ticket distribution systems, could better protect the interests of China's airlines.

systems, could better protect the interests of China's airlines.

However, most international GDSs were invested in by international aviation companies, and they inevitably will work for the interests of their investors, and service charges for ticket sales of those systems could also impose heavy burdens on domestic airlines.(China Daily)