# Reducing Transaction Costs in Flight Bookings via Blockchain

> Air New Zealand explored the use of distributed ledger technology in its ticket sales process together with Swiss blockchain platform Winding Tree. The goal was to significantly reduce transaction costs for consumers and travel agencies while simplifying the booking process. Reports indicate that transaction costs for users making blockchain-based bookings can be reduced by up to 20 percent.

**Sector:** Tertiary sector · **Industry:** Tour operators and travel agencies · **Organisation:** Air New Zealand · **Maturity level:** Pilot

Canonical URL: https://www.sapientblock.com/en/use-cases/air-new-zealand-transaktionskosten-flugbuchungen-blockchain-senken

## Documentation status

- **Project status:** Pilot
- **Evidence:** Evidence high
- **Editorial review:** Ufuk Avci, 12 July 2026

## Description

Air New Zealand, in collaboration with the Swiss startup Winding Tree, has explored the possibilities of blockchain technology for its own ticket sales process. Winding Tree operates a decentralized travel ecosystem that enables airlines and hotels to offer their products directly without expensive intermediaries like Global Distribution Systems. According to reports, travellers booking via this blockchain-based platform can save up to 20 percent on transaction costs. The project was in the exploration and evaluation phase; a full live operation was not confirmed.

Air New Zealand, one of the best-known airlines in the Asia-Pacific region, partnered with Winding Tree, a Swiss travel startup specialising in blockchain, to investigate how decentralized technology can make the airline’s booking process more efficient. Winding Tree offers an open, decentralized platform based on distributed ledger technology that allows travel providers to distribute their inventories directly to travel agencies and end customers without relying on costly Global Distribution Systems. The partnership was announced in 2017 and focused on exploring concrete use cases for cost reduction and process improvement. According to available reports, using the blockchain-based booking solution could reduce transaction costs for consumers by up to 20 percent. The exact project status and further technical details about the blockchain technology used were not publicly specified, so the initiative is classified as an exploration and pilot project.

## Benefits

- Travel agencies gain direct access to flight offers without costly GDS intermediary fees
- Potential for cheaper purchasing conditions and more competitive offers to end customers
- Lower booking costs due to the elimination of intermediary fees
- More transparent pricing directly from the provider
- Reduction of transaction costs by up to 20 percent for blockchain-based bookings
- Simplification of the booking process through the removal of traditional intermediaries
- Increased transparency and traceability of booking transactions
- Modernisation of booking infrastructure opens up new technical areas of expertise
- Simplified and automated processing reduces manual booking efforts

## Challenges

- Existing contracts with GDS providers can hinder the rapid transition to decentralized booking systems
- Integrating a decentralized blockchain platform into existing legacy booking systems is technically complex
- Broad acceptance by travel agencies and end customers is a prerequisite for the platform’s network effect
- Regulatory requirements in international travel must be considered in platform design
- Training needs for employees in handling new decentralized booking platforms and processes

## Technology foundation

The project is based on the Winding Tree blockchain platform, a decentralized travel ecosystem built on distributed ledger technology. This technology is particularly well suited to the travel sector because it can process booking transactions without central intermediaries, eliminating intermediary fees and enabling a direct connection between airline and end customer or travel agency.

## Sources

- [Air New Zealand prüft Blockchain-Technologie](https://www.travelnews.ch/travel-tech/7263-air-new-zealand-prueft-blockchain-technologie.html)
- [Air NZ und Swiss Travel Platform Winding Tree in Blockchain-Partnerschaft](https://portal.staralliance.com/cms/news/hot-topics/2017-11-23/star/air-nz-swiss-travel-platform-winding-tree-in-blockchain-tie-up)
- [Was Blockchain in der Reisebranche bewirkt](https://www.meinstartup.com/was-blockchain-in-reisebranche/)
- [Werden Blockchain und ChatGPT die Tourismus-Industrie nachhaltig verändern? Teil 1](https://deployed-blog.de/werden-blockchain-und-chatgpt-die-tourismus-industrie-nachhaltig-veraendern-teil-1/)