GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (GDS) 1
Chapter 1
Encoding & Decoding
GDS – Amadeus
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GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (GDS) 2
IATA has developed unique codes for each recognized city, country, state, airline, airport, aircraft type for
quick, smooth and efficient working of Airline Industry. These codes remain irrespective of whichever
reservation system you use. These codes developed by IATA remain same for entire Airline Industry.
Many cities have same name but are located in different countries. Many cities have more than one
Airport. Hence each city has its unique code and each airport has its unique code.
IATA has assigned unique 2 letter codes to countries and 3 letter codes to Cities/Airports.
It is nearly next to impossible to remember all the codes. Hence with commands you can Encode and
Decode city, country, airport, airline, state very easily within fraction of seconds.
Encode – Means to convert NAME to CODE
Decode – Means to convert CODE to NAME
FR
France
Encode
Delhi DEL
Paris PAR
Decode
Berlin BER
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GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (GDS) 3
Encoding City and Airport Names
To display three letter codes for City and Airport Names, command is
DAN City Name/Airport Name
For Example :
DANParis
PAR : Code of Paris
System Response:
C:City
Distance of Airport from City Country Code
Explanation of System Response :
Code Explanation
A:APT Airport
B:BUS Bus Station
C:CITY City
G:GRD Ground Transportation
H:HELI Heliport
O:OFF-PT City has IATA Code that is not an Airport
R:RAIL Railway Station
S: Assoc Town Airport Code associated to city
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GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (GDS) 4
Decoding City and Airport Names
To display name of three letter city or airport code, command is
DAC City Name/Airport Name
For Example :
DACHYD India - Telengana
System Response
City and City Name against Code Distance of Airport from City
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GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (GDS) 5
Decoding and Encoding Country Name
To display two letter code of country from name or to display country name from two letter code
,command is
DC Country Name
Example :
DC Singapore
Or
DC SG
Explanation of response received by Amadeus System
Component Explanation
SG Country Code
Singapore/SE/ASIA Country Name/Sub Area and Location
TC3 IATA Traffic Conference Area
SGD Singapore Dlr Singapore Dollar Currency
Local/Int Published Currency published is local and International
SGP Citizen Code
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GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (GDS) 6
Decoding and Encoding Airlines
To display two letter code of Airline name or to display Airline name from two letter code ,command is
DNA Airline Name/Airline Code
Example:
DNA Air France
Or
DNA AF
Explanation of response received by Amadeus System
Component Explanation
AF/AFR Two letter and three letter airline code
057 Three- digit ticket code/Airline No.
Air France Name of Airline
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GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (GDS) 7
Decoding and Encoding States/Provinces
Display two letter code of state/province or display list of all states in specific country
DNS State Name/Province Name/Country Code
For Example
DNS California
System Response: Displays information about California, which country it is part of as well Country and
State Code of California.
Another Example: DNS IN
System Response : Displays list of all of the IATA recognized states of India (as IN is the IATA country code
for India)
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GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM (GDS) 8
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