Why airlines must pay close attention to Concur, Apple, Facebook, Google and Amazon
Skift Take
The airlines industry should be looking at distribution in the fullest sense of the word: be where the consumers are spending most of their time in digital channels, and the large Internet players are also looking to connect with large consumer-facing industries like airlines.
IATA, the international industry trade group of airlines, has come out with a new report identifying major trends that are transforming the travel and specifically airline distribution landscape. As part of that 35-page report, done by the erstwhile Atmosphere Research Group for IATA, a very interesting part about alternative distribution channels caught our eye, and we're extracting it below, with permission.
Pay Attention to "CAGFA": Concur, Apple, Facebook, Google, and Amazon
By Henry Harteveldt
The traditional primary focus of airlines’ distribution attentions have been their own channels and those of key third-parties, such as GDS, metasearch, and offline and online travel agencies. These channels continue to merit airlines’ attention -- but they cannot be carriers’ sole focus.
Atmosphere asserts that a new “gang of five” warrant airlines’ ongoing scrutiny. None of the five are traditional airline distribution players. The five companies: Concur, parent o
