Global distribution system

A computer reservation system, typically owned jointly by airlines in different countries, that includes reservation databases of suppliers in many countries. This term has largely replaced "computerized reservation system (CRS)" as the term of choice within the industry. A computer reservations system (or central reservation system-CRS) is a computerized system used to store and retrieve information and conduct transactions related to air travel. Originally designed and operated by airlines, CRSes were later extended for the use of travel agencies. Major CRS operations that book and sell tickets for multiple airlines are known as global distribution systems (GDS). Airlines have divested most of their direct holdings to dedicated GDS companies, who make their systems accessible to consumers through Internet gateways.

A global distribution system (GDS) can be defined as a centralized and permanently upto- date database that is accessible to its subscribers through computing terminals. A GDS provides all kinds of tariffs and tourism services to subscribers’ everyday, allowing the users to make, change and cancel reservations, as well as to print tickets and avail themselves of any kind of rights related to services and products. Traditionally, travel agencies have been the main subscribers, with airline companies being the owners, creators, hosts or salesmen for GDSs. The GDSs constitute at the present time the evolution and natural adaptation of the traditional computer reserve systems (CRS) to the market. The origin of these distribution systems comes from the 1960s in the United States as a consequence of the inefficacy of manual systems for the control of seat availability in the wake of the growth experienced by the aviation industry With the goal of creating an automated system for the capacity administration of their airplanes, American Airlines and IBM developed a joint program that became the SABRE, considered the first CRS The original purpose of these systems was to facilitate through an automated system the storage and administration processes of all the information related to flights, lodging availability, and schedules or prices. Beginning in 1987 and as a consequence of the increase in demand for the application of such information to other types of tourism products (e.g. hotel rooms), and of the internationalization of their operations, CRS moved towards a new and enlarged concept which we know today as the global distribution systems.

Traditionally, inside the distribution channels a GDS operates as a retail wholesaler because its sales are addressed to the travel information to carry out their job, from the moment a client asks for a service until the potential sale and follow-through. The GDSs provides a valuable instrument for travel agencies, increasing their productivity. Moreover, this wholesale element in the distribution channel is also a very positive tool for hotel companies, airline companies, car rental business, etc. Modern GDSs typically allow users to book hotel rooms and rental cars as well as airline tickets.

·         Sabre

·         Galileo CRS

·         Worldspan

·         Navitaire