ABSTRACT
After the decline in air travel immediately after 9/11, the air travel industry has resumed its growth and is currently handling over 2 billion passengers annually. The information and communications technologies (ICT), that have transformed so many other industries, have also had a profound effect on airline ability to distribute tickets and reduce costs, but the journey to cheap, e-ticketing has not been painless and has faced problems with compatibility, connectivity and the competitive airline market. This paper discusses the history of ICTs and their associated Computerised Reservation Systems (CRSs) and Global Distribution Systems (GDSs), the specific GDS and online services providers in use today, as well as, presenting some challenges facing the airline ticket distribution industry.
