American Airlines and Winding Tree Travel Platform Announce Blockchain Partnership

An American Airlines Airbus A321-200 aircraft takes off from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, California, United States, March 28, 2018. REUTERS / Mike Blake / File Photo

NEW YORK, Nov. 16 (Reuters) – American Airlines (AAL.O) and Swiss travel platform Winding Tree on Tuesday announced that they have formed a partnership that will allow purchasing companies to directly access US airline data on flights , without the need for intermediaries.

Winding Tree is an Ethereum-based decentralized travel marketplace launched in 2017 that aims to make travel cheaper for consumers and more profitable for providers.

Travel agents and business travel bookings currently obtain their flight and room data from Global Distribution Systems (GDS) such as Amadeus and Saber, which use real-time inventory technology.

The Winding Tree platform will allow businesses such as airlines and hotel operators to publish available inventory directly to these customers.

“We’re always looking for innovative ways to give our customers access to American content in the way that works best for them,” said Neil Geurin, general manager of digital and distribution at American.

Through this partnership, Winding Tree will provide a framework for American’s recreation reservation program with corporate buyers. The program will be able to negotiate unique offers directly with American Airlines

“Although market connectivity is generic, the Ethereum blockchain ensures that each relationship is unique to the private agreement between the seller and the buyer, which allows for personalized pricing of content between the two parties,” said Pedro Anderson , COO and co-founder of Winding Tree.

Along with a growing list of partners, American Airlines is joining with Air Canada to leverage Winding Tree’s decentralized marketplace to deal more directly with buyers.

Reporting by Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss; Editing by Alden Bentley and Dan Grebler

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