The number of net fares, which grew 30% year-on-year, is testament to the increasingly competitive state of the travel industry today, said Abacus.

More than 900 airlines and wholesalers are providing net fares with Abacus to address the rising demand for lower fares content by travel agents, as well as drive greater competitiveness beyond publicly filed ATPCO and SITA fares.

Brett Henry (pictured below left), Abacus VP Marketing and VP India, credited the sharp increase in the Abacus net fares offering to the company’s on-going commitment to agents who, in turn, could provide the best available fares to travellers.

The company boasts the most extensive fare content access, with some airlines having up to 80% of their fares ticketed using net fares content, he added.

“Net fares are playing an increasingly important role in the Asia Pacific travel landscape, and this is evidenced by a high penetration rate of net fares content of up to 60% in some markets.”

Abacus SmartPrice integrates all published, corporate and net fare content into a single workspace screen to ensure agents have quick and easy access to the most cost-effective fares for the traveller, Henry said.

With the improved tool agents can search for all published and net fares distributed by wholesalers or airlines through a single powerful search. This saves up to 80% of their time and help improve productivity.

Abacus SmartPrice integrated net fares content is currently available in Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Philippines. Individual launches in other markets across Asia Pacific will soon be rolled out.