Product news, releases, projects and more from the global distribution systems during October 2012 - all here, in one easy read.
More recent updates first:
Tuesday 30 October 2012:
Monday 29 October 2012:- Travelport taps Sabre for new Asia-Pacific chief. Patrick Andres will join as vice president and regional managing director for the region, having left the role of VP in Asia-Pacific for Sabre Hospitality Solutions after six years. Andres takes over from Simon Nowroz who is moving to a group VP role overseeing business development in Brazil, China, India and Japan. Based in Singapore and reporting to Jason Clarke, group vice president and managing director of global sales, Andres has also worked for IATA, Expedia and software company SAG.
- THack @ WIT Singapore – high commended, gamification, creativity and more
Saturday 27 October 2012:Friday 26 October 2012:Thursday 25 October 2012:Tuesday 23 October 2012:- Amadeus signs distribution agreement with Jetstar Japan. The partnership sees Amadeus-connected agents given access to the new low cost airline's fares, schedules and inventory. The carrier, part owned by Qantas, Japan Airlines and Mitsubishi, is slated to begin operations in late-2012, serving domestic routes around Japan.
- Travelport appoints Damian Hickey as vice president for distribution sales and services in Asia-Pacific. Reporting into Derek Sharp, group vice president and managing director, Hickey will have overall responsibility for partner relationships across airlines and rail companies. Prior to joining Travelport, Hickey was most recently regional vice president for the South Asia and India at SITA. He has also worked previously at Amadeus and Datalex.
Monday 22 October 2012:Wednesday 17 October 2012:Tuesday 16 October 2012:Friday 12 October 2012:Thursday 11 October 2012:- Sabre and Aerolineas Argentinas unite for SkyTeam alliance technology push. Sabre will upgrade the South American carrier's entire IT platform including revenue, network and flight planning tools. The latest development follows Sabre and the airline's technology agreement signed in May 2011 for integration of the SabreSonic Customer Sales and Service platform.
- Travelport and Statesman Travel Group migrate technology following 2011 Commodore acquisition. The UK-based business travel agency bought the company in October last year and switched GDSs within a six-week window. Commodore will use the SmartPoint system following the migration.
- Abacus signs deal with PayPal. The APAC GDS will integrate a PayPal payment option within the existing WebStart and WebConnect systems for travel agents. PayPal customers currently number around 113 million users (including travel brands) in 190 markets around the world.
- Tnooz-Amadeus FREE Webinar: How to market and sell unbundled travel
Wednesday 10 October 2012:Tuesday 9 October 2012:Monday 8 October 2012:Thursday 4 October 2012:Wednesday 3 October 2012:- Qantas and Sabre sign distribution pact. The long-term, global full content agreement continues an existing patnership between the pair to give Sabre-connected agents to published fares, schedules and inventory rom the carrier. In addition, advance seat selection - one of the airline's ancillary services - will be included in the agreement.
- Deutsche Bahn to open-source data activists: Drop dead
Tuesday 2 October 2012:- Amadeus teams up with AirBerlin for ancillary products push. The partnership uses the Amadeus Ancillary Services tool and alllows Amadeus-connected agents in Germany, Austria and Switzerland to sell additional luggage, preferred seats and meals usignthe the EMD process. The system is also being used for other ancillaries for agents in Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Spain and Sweden.
- Airlines need to take-off not face lengthy delays with innovation
Monday 1 October 2012:Previous GDS updates:- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - September 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - August 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - July 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - June 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - May 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - April 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - March 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - February 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - January 2012
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - December 2011
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - November 2011
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - October 2011
- GDS news from Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - September 2011
- GDS news: Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - August 2011
- GDS news: Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus - July 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - June 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - May 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - April 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - March 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - February 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - January 2011
- Travelport, Amadeus, Sabre, Abacus briefs - December 2010
- GDS Bitesize - January 2010 to November 2010
NB: Globe technology image via Shutterstock.