American Airlines is partnering with Winding Tree, an Ethereum-based decentralized travel marketplace, to provide direct access to the airline’s content for employees of a large corporate travel buyer.
According to Reuters.com, Winding Tree’s platform allows travel companies like airlines and hotel operators to publish available inventory directly to travel advisors and corporate travel agents currently getting their data from global distribution systems (GDS).
With the integration, employees of the company can book their leisure travel directly with American Airlines, without the use of an intermediary, but still receive the benefits of a corporate booking.
“We’re always looking for innovative ways to give our customers access to American’s content in the way that’s most convenient for them,” says Neil Geurin, managing director, digital and distribution of American Airlines.
“Winding Tree provides a frictionless approach to achieving this goal, and we look forward to working closely with them.”
Winding Tree says the corporate buyer will be able to negotiate unique offers directly with American Airlines, and, with the help of NDC technology, such deals will be tailored to the company’s needs.
“We’re proud to be teaming up with American Airlines, one of the largest and most well-respected airlines in the industry,” says Pedro Anderson, co-founder and COO of Winding Tree.
“While marketplace connectivity is generic, Ethereum blockchain ensures that each relationship is unique to the private agreement between seller and buyer which enables personalized content pricing between the two parties,” said Anderson.
Winding Tree also has an integration with Air Canada, whereby the airline has made its inventory available to anyone in the marketplace’s community.
