TCS Develops Inter-System Adaptor for TravelSky's Passenger Retailing System under partnership for Digital Transformation & Globalization

HONG KONG, 23 May, 2019: TravelSky Technology Limited (TravelSky) and Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (BSE: 532540, NSE: TCS) have announced the successful implementation of a multifunctional adapter that delivers seamless two-way message exchange between legacy EDIFACT formats and IATA NDC-enabled systems such as TravelSky's QUICK Passenger Retailing System. TCS developed the technology for TravelSky under a new partnership that leverages TCS' international presence and global civil aviation experience to achieve TravelSky's strategic objectives to become a world-class information technology and commerce service provider for the civil aviation, tourism and transportation industries.

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, TravelSky is a leading aviation and travel information technology solutions provider in China, providing services such as critical information systems on flight control, air ticket distribution, boarding and load planning and accounting. It services a full spectrum of industry participants from domestic and international commercial airlines, airports and cargo shippers to major international organizations such as the International Air Transport Association (IATA). TravelSky is the third largest global distribution system (GDS) in the world, and has the world's largest Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) data processing center.

The QUICK system is an IATA NDC-compliant hybrid system of a Passenger Service Solution (PSS) and E-Commerce retail engine that enables airlines to customize business offerings and implement a personalized sales strategy.

"The new Adapter will, in a first phase, be used exclusively for QUICK and will connect the Passenger Retailing System with the major GDS's. In a second phase planned for later this year, the capabilities of the adapter will be extended to be able to consume not only NDC structured xml messages from QUICK, but bespoke formats used by other Reservation Systems deployed by airlines having similar needs. The goal of such undertaking is to allow airlines to connect easily to the Global Distribution System and is part of a bigger initiative to allow more airlines to take advantage of the advanced distribution capabilities offered by TravelSky in and outside of China", said Lars Gaebler, Director Marketing and Sales for QUICK.

In addition to the adaptor for the QUICK system, the new collaboration between TravelSky and TCS will see in-depth cooperation in Passenger Service Systems (PSS), Low Cost Carrier (LCC), New Distribution Capability (NDC), freight rate, aviation, airport and distribution IT as well as other related business and technology fields. As part of the agreement, TCS will provide expertise and guidance across emerging technologies, including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data and the Internet of Things (IoT) to name a few.

"This partnership with TravelSky is very strategic for TCS' extensive geographic footprint in the Travel, Transportation and Hospitality (TTH) segment in Asia Pacific. TCS is very proud to bring our global TTH ecosystem and expertise to this partnership with TravelSky, jointly expanding the international aviation information service market in China," said Girish Ramachandran, President, TCS Asia Pacific.

This initiative aligns to China's 13th Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development to develop better modern comprehensive transportation systems with focus on "innovation driven promotion of IT and Big Data based transport management and operation, online ticketing and vehicle and fleet automation".

Last updated: Apr 7, 2020 at 12:12 pm CDT