Local tour operators to offer cheaper airline tickets

By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

Processing center of the Global Distribution System (GDS), a worldwide computerized reservation network, in Azerbaijan (eltickets.net) connects to Goldenpay and Millikart payment systems.

Project Manager Vugar Bakhshaliyev said that work on the integration of the national payment systems to eltickets.net portal, through which it will be possible to book flights and purchase them online, to be completed in the coming days.

The project is implemented at the expense of the State Fund for Development of Information Technologies of Azerbaijan. The Fund allocated 14,000 manats (about $7.600) for the realization of the project. 

The launch of the local GDS-processing, as previously said Bakhshaliyev, can significantly affect the cost of tickets, which will be more affordable for consumers.

Negotiations on the integration of local tour operators to the local GDS-processing are already underway. By connecting to the GDS-processing, tour operators will be able to gain access to the current tariffs of the airlines in other regions and to buy tickets where they are cheaper.

"For example, a ticket for Baku-Moscow flight of "Aeroflot" airline in Baku can cost 300 manats, in Moscow - 310 manats and in Berlin - 208 manats. The tour operator, for example, working directly with the Galileo system for its platform, can get the current prices exclusively for Baku. Once connected to the same local GDS, the tour operator can gain access to the current tariffs of the airlines in other regions and buy tickets where they are cheaper," Bakhshaliyev said.