Selected challenges from distribution and commerce in the airline and travel industry

Abstract

Distribution for the travel industry is about connecting providers (airlines, train companies, car rental companies, hoteliers ... who all have tickets to sell) to customers (business travelers & tourists). Such sales can be done directly or through a travel agent, both offline (during a discussion with an agent) or online (through a web site). Distribution for the travel industry has gone through impressive changes in the past decades with the advent of Global Distribution Systems in 80's, the rise sophisticated pricing & revenue management policies in the 90's and the growth of Internet in the past decade. © 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.