The Four Global Distribution Systems in the Travel and Tourism Industry

the help of powerful internal Client/Server systems. As in the past, customers now go back to calling the airline directly and pay there and then with their credit card. This aggressive procedure has forced many other airlines to also make direct reservations and by-pass the CRSs. Some carriers, such as Swissair, have come to an agreement with major travel agent chains which then can make their reservations directly in the system of the respective airline. Some of the major travel agents like American Express offer the possibility to various airlines and hotels to display their services directly in the travel agents ́ internal systems. This could sufficiently substitute the scope of services provided by CRSs and the cost of communication between the service provider and the travel agent can be reduced. However, this would increasingly counteract the idea of creating a global electronic market.