ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses airline distribution and e-commerce in some depth. Airlines have a long history of technological innovation, with the commercial airline industry being one of the most technologically advanced industries in modern times. Airlines have been at the forefront of adopting new technologies, and this chapter begins with a brief historical overview of the most important developments. Technological innovation in the airline industry has been seen in the aircraft itself, its impact on the environment and on airline management. One of the most important innovations in airline management and passenger interaction has been the way in which airlines sell their product to passengers. Airline operations refer to all the activities related to the actual operation of a flight, such as crew, flight and maintenance planning, control systems, and in-flight entertainment, among others. Operational support systems do not only support the actual flight operations, but also support a complex process of distributing the airline's inventory to its final customers.
