Articles tagged “distribution”

Airlines have learned that standing up to the global distribution system giants can actually yield benefits. It has been a hard-earned victory.

Air France's decision to join Lufthansa and British Airways in leveling surcharges means that 20 percent of the airplane tickets booked through Amadeus would be subject to the new fees. Expect Amadeus to try to undermine the effort with every muscle it has.

It is easy to see why Lufthansa, which sells flights and ancillary services, would be interested in blockchain. Airlines, hotels and tour operators might be able to use blockchain to dramatically reduce their distribution costs. At this stage, it is hard to tell how close this is to being a reality, and how fearful online travel agents and others should be.

The online travel agencies — as the Apex Predators and beneficiaries at the top of the current distribution scheme — aren't likely to rush in to invest in a technology that democratizes access to travel content.

TUI's chief executive is nailing his colors to the mast when it comes to blockchain and its benefits for the travel industry. In theory the technology is great — and TUI has already identified an effective way to use it — but will the hype be justified?

Blockchain is essentially a large immutable database which, due to its security features and decentralized nature, can pose a threat to traditional intermediaries. Companies are looking to expand blockchain to tackle the current travel distribution landscape.

DHISCO boss Toni Portmann said the hotel distribution tech company has completely modernized its formerly limited and failure-prone system. But we're still waiting to see a wave of new contract announcements, including for alternative lodging providers.

Skift anticipated that British Airways and Iberia would copy Lufthansa's pioneering move to push middlemen further out of the distribution chain. But the move is still eyebrow-raising because it defies two years of predictions by the distribution systems that Lufthansa's effort would fizzle out.

There ain't no such thing as a free booking.

In his first interview with Skift, Amadeus's chief executive Luis Maroto makes a persuasive case that his $24.8 billion company is successfully navigating industry changes.