# Winding Tree - Decentralized Travel Booking Platform

> Winding Tree was a blockchain-based decentralized platform for the travel industry, developed from 2017 until August 2024. The project aimed to break the high fees and market power of online travel agencies and global distribution systems by enabling travel providers to market their offers directly. After seven years, the project was discontinued as no product-market fit could be achieved and acceptance of blockchain technology in the travel industry was too low.

**Sector:** Tertiary sector · **Industry:** Tour operators and travel agencies · **Organisation:** Winding Tree · **Maturity level:** Concept

Canonical URL: https://www.sapientblock.com/en/use-cases/winding-tree-reiseangebote-direkt-anbieter-buchen

## Documentation status

- **Project status:** Concept
- **Evidence:** Evidence high
- **Editorial review:** Ufuk Avci, 15 April 2026

## Description

Winding Tree was founded in 2017 in Zug (Switzerland, Crypto Valley) with the mission to decentralise the global travel distribution system. The problem: Amadeus and Sabre control about 80% of all global flight bookings as duopolistic GDS providers and charge 7-15 USD per booking — a significant cost burden for airlines.

Winding Tree developed an Ethereum-based decentralised distribution: Airlines and hotels publish their offers directly on the blockchain (as smart contracts with availability and prices); travel agencies and online travel agencies can access the blockchain directly and book without GDS intermediaries; payments are made directly between travellers and providers. Airline partners in the test phase: Lufthansa, Air France, Swiss, Air New Zealand, Nordic Choice Hotels. PaxEx.Aero reported extensively on airline blockchain travel initiatives. Challenges: The GDS system is deeply integrated into airline IT systems; switching costs are high; the network effect problem (the platform only reaches full potential when all providers and all travel agencies are on it). Winding Tree ceased operations (reported by PhocusWire) — the concept of decentralised travel distribution remains as a model. Successor initiatives: NDC (New Distribution Capability, IATA standard) pursues similar direct sales goals but with an API approach instead of blockchain.

## Benefits

- Travel companies could significantly reduce their distribution costs while retaining greater control over their pricing.
- Eliminating intermediary fees could lead to lower costs for travellers and higher margins for providers.
- A decentralised structure would enable more transparency and direct control over booking processes.
- Direct marketing could foster innovation and competition in the travel industry.
- New career opportunities would arise in the emerging blockchain and decentralised technology sector.

## Challenges

- Building sufficient partnerships with travel providers proves time-consuming and difficult to implement.
- Lack of acceptance of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies in the traditionally conservative travel industry.
- Difficulty disrupting established market structures with strong incumbents such as online travel agencies.
- Significant retraining requirements for existing employees in new blockchain technologies.

## Technology foundation

Winding Tree used a public blockchain infrastructure that enabled travel providers to market their offers decentralised and transact directly with customers. The technology was intended to integrate smart contracts for automated transactions and cryptocurrency payments to eliminate intermediaries.

## Sources

- [Winding Tree ceases operations](https://www.phocuswire.com/winding-tree-ceases-operations)
- [Winding Tree blockchain airlines travel](https://paxex.aero/winding-tree-blockchain-airlines-travel/)
- [Winding Tree Official Website](https://windingtree.com)