GDS systems are the backbone of the air travel industry — but few outside it know what they are. An explanation of Amadeus, Sabre, and Galileo, their role, and why they matter.
Global distribution systems (GDS) are the technological backbone of the air travel industry — but most people outside it don’t know what they are or how they work. Here’s a simple explanation.
What is a GDS?
A GDS is a computer system that connects air agents to the inventory, fares, and rules of hundreds of airlines. Instead of checking every airline separately, a GDS shows you all of them on one screen — in real time.
The three major GDS systems in the world are:
- Amadeus — the most widely used in Europe, including Macedonia
- Sabre — dominant in North America
- Travelport (Galileo) — strong at a global level
How does a GDS work?
When an agent enters a request (for example, Skopje–London on June 15th), the GDS system simultaneously checks thousands of fares, flights, and available seats across all the airlines flying that route. Within seconds, the agent sees all the options — sorted by price, duration, or number of connections.
Why is a GDS important?
Without a GDS, an air agent would have to check every airline on its own website — which is unworkable for a serious agency with multiple requests a day.
What a GDS enables for the agent:
- Comparing prices across multiple airlines at once
- Combining different carriers into one route (for example, Skopje–Vienna with Austrian Airlines, then Vienna–New York with United)
- Applying fare rules and restrictions
- Issuing tickets directly from the system
Who has access to a GDS?
Access to a GDS requires IATA accreditation or a partnership with an IATA-accredited agent. This is the main barrier that keeps small agencies from operating independently — and that’s exactly why the consolidator model exists.
How can you get access?
If your agency doesn’t have its own IATA accreditation, you can work through an IATA-accredited partner. Avionet operates on Amadeus GDS and gives partner agencies professional access to the system without their own IATA accreditation.
Key points
- A GDS is a system that connects air agents to all airlines in one place
- The three major GDS systems are Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport (Galileo)
- A GDS enables price comparison, combining flights, and issuing tickets in real time
- Access to a GDS requires IATA accreditation or a partnership with an accredited agent like Avionet