PSS — Passenger Service System

PSS — Passenger Service System

The PSS is the digital backbone of an airline. It is the integrated software platform that covers the entire passenger journey — from seat inventory and reservations through to ticketing and check-in data provision.

Core Modules

A typical PSS includes: CRS (Central Reservation System) — seat inventory and reservation management; Ticketing — ticket issuance, void and refund; Departure Control (DCS) — check-in and boarding; Inventory Management — flight capacity and schedule management; Loyalty integration — FFP point processing.

Difference from GDS

The PSS is the airline's internal system. A GDS (Global Distribution System — Amadeus, Sabre, Travelport) is the distribution channel through which travel agents access multiple airlines. The PSS feeds seat and fare data to the GDS.

NDC Transformation

IATA's NDC (New Distribution Capability) standard aims to enable PSS data to be distributed directly without passing through a GDS intermediary. Modern PSS platforms are beginning to integrate NDC API layers.

Key Vendors

Amadeus Altéa, SITA Horizon, Sabre SynXis, Radixx and Hitit Crane are among the most widely used PSS platforms. Hitit Computer Services, listed in the LandingAtlas Technology directory, focuses particularly on regional carriers.

Airport Integration

The transfer of PSS data to the DCS is the foundation of the operational check-in process. In common-use environments (CUTE/CUSS), this integration requires protocol standardisation.