A COMPUTER Reservations System (CRS) battle in Hong Kong has ended with a local firm switching providers, causing a major shift in Asia-Pacific market share.
Travel agency automation services provider TicTas System Automation has switched to Amadeus from American Airlines' Sabre system, making Amadeus the second largest CRS in Asia in terms of bookings.
Amadeus holds the claim of largest CRS worldwide, but Abacus claims more bookings in Asia.
The switch comes as a blow to Sabre as companies have been looking to Asia for the largest growth potential in the travel industry.
It is understood Sabre managers tried hard to retain TicTas, which has a large share of the Hong Kong travel agency market, and offered the firm a substantial cash incentive.
TicTas managing director Sunil Nanda said his firm served about 20 per cent of Hong Kong's travel agencies, with 450 terminals installed in 100 agencies.