Galileo CRS
Encyclopedia
Galileo is a computer reservations system
(CRS) owned by Travelport
. As of 2002, it had a 26.4% of worldwide CRS airline bookings.
In addition to airline reservations, the Galileo CRS is also used to book train
travel, cruise
s, car
rental, and hotel
rooms. The Galileo system was moved from Denver, Colorado, to the Worldspan
datacenter in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 28, 2008, following the 2007 merger of Travelport and Worldspan (although they now share the same datacenter, they continue to be run as separate systems). Galileo is subject to the Capps II
and its successor Secure Flight
program for the selection of passengers with a risk profile.
Galileo is a member of IATA, OTA and SITA
.
created its first computerized central reservation system under the name Apollo. During the 1980s and early 1990s, a significant proportion of airline tickets were sold by travel agents. Flights by the airline owning the reservation system had preferential display on the computer screen. Due to the high market penetration of the Sabre and Apollo systems, owned by American Airlines and United Airlines, respectively, Worldspan and Galileo were created by other airline groups in an attempt to gain market share in the computer reservation system market and, by inference, the commercial airline market. Galileo was formed in 1987 by nine European carriers -- British Airways
, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
, Alitalia
, Swissair
, Austrian Airlines
, Olympic
, Sabena
, Air Portugal and Aer Lingus
.
In response and to prevent possible government intervention, United Airlines spun-off its Apollo reservation system, which was then controlled by Covia. Galileo International was born when Covia acquired Europe's Galileo and merged it with the Apollo system in 1992.
The Apollo reservation system is still used by United Airlines and Galileo International (now part of Travelport
GDS) travel agency customers in the United States
, Canada
, Mexico
, and Japan
.
Galileo UK was originally created from Travicom
which was the world's first multi-access reservations system using the technology developed by Videcom
. Travicom
was a company launched by Videcom
, British Airways
, British Caledonian
and CCL in 1976 which in 1988 became Galileo UK.
Computer reservations system
A computer reservations system is a computerized system used to store and retrieve information and conduct transactions related to air travel. Originally designed and operated by airlines, CRSes were later extended for the use of travel agencies...
(CRS) owned by Travelport
Travelport
Travelport is a broad-based business services company and a leading provider of critical transaction processing solutions to companies operating in the global travel industry...
. As of 2002, it had a 26.4% of worldwide CRS airline bookings.
In addition to airline reservations, the Galileo CRS is also used to book train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
travel, cruise
Cruise ship
A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...
s, car
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
rental, and hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
rooms. The Galileo system was moved from Denver, Colorado, to the Worldspan
Worldspan
Worldspan is a provider of travel technology and content and a part of the Travelport GDS business. It offers worldwide electronic distribution of travel information, Internet products and connectivity, and e-commerce capabilities for travel agencies, travel service providers and corporations...
datacenter in Atlanta, Georgia, on September 28, 2008, following the 2007 merger of Travelport and Worldspan (although they now share the same datacenter, they continue to be run as separate systems). Galileo is subject to the Capps II
Computer Assisted Passenger PreScreening System II
The Computer Assisted Passenger Prescreening System was a program of the United States Department of Homeland Security instituted to increase security at airports by assessing the risk level of passengers before they're allowed to board...
and its successor Secure Flight
Secure Flight
Secure Flight is an airline passenger pre-screening program to be implemented starting in August 2009 by the Transportation Security Administration . Secure Flight will match passenger information against blacklists maintained by the federal government...
program for the selection of passengers with a risk profile.
Galileo is a member of IATA, OTA and SITA
SITA
SITA is a multinational information technology company specialising in providing IT and telecommunication services to the air transport industry...
.
History
Galileo traces its roots back to 1971 when United AirlinesUnited Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
created its first computerized central reservation system under the name Apollo. During the 1980s and early 1990s, a significant proportion of airline tickets were sold by travel agents. Flights by the airline owning the reservation system had preferential display on the computer screen. Due to the high market penetration of the Sabre and Apollo systems, owned by American Airlines and United Airlines, respectively, Worldspan and Galileo were created by other airline groups in an attempt to gain market share in the computer reservation system market and, by inference, the commercial airline market. Galileo was formed in 1987 by nine European carriers -- British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V., operating under the name KLM Royal Dutch Airlines , is the flag carrier airline of the Netherlands and is part of Air France-KLM...
, Alitalia
Alitalia
Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A. , in its later stages known as Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane S.p.A. in Extraordinary Administration, was the former Italian flag carrier...
, Swissair
Swissair
Swissair AG was the former national airline of Switzerland.It was formed from a merger between Balair and Ad Astra Aero , in 1931...
, Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines
Austrian Airlines is the flag carrier airline of Austria, headquartered in Office Park 2 on the grounds of Vienna International Airport in Schwechat, Wien-Umgebung and a subsidiary of Deutsche Lufthansa AG. Together with regional subsidiary Tyrolean Airways and charter arm Lauda Air, it operates...
, Olympic
Olympic
Olympic may refer to:In sports:* Olympic Games, international multi-sport event held since 1896* Ancient Olympic Games, ancient multi-sport event held in Olympia, Greece between 776 BC and 393 AD...
, Sabena
Sabena
SABENA was the national airline of Belgium from 1923 to 2001, with its base at Brussels National Airport. After its bankruptcy in 2001, the newly formed SN Brussels Airlines took over part of SABENA's assets in February 2002, which then became Brussels Airlines...
, Air Portugal and Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus
Aer Lingus Group Plc is the flag carrier of Ireland. It operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft serving Europe and North America. It is Ireland's oldest extant airline, and its second largest after low-cost rival Ryanair...
.
In response and to prevent possible government intervention, United Airlines spun-off its Apollo reservation system, which was then controlled by Covia. Galileo International was born when Covia acquired Europe's Galileo and merged it with the Apollo system in 1992.
The Apollo reservation system is still used by United Airlines and Galileo International (now part of Travelport
Travelport
Travelport is a broad-based business services company and a leading provider of critical transaction processing solutions to companies operating in the global travel industry...
GDS) travel agency customers in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Galileo UK was originally created from Travicom
Travicom
Travicom was the trading name of Travel Automation Services Ltd a travel technology company based in the United Kingdom providing a global distribution system between airlines and travel agencies....
which was the world's first multi-access reservations system using the technology developed by Videcom
Videcom international
Videcom International Limited is a United Kingdom travel technology company based in Henley-on-Thames, it designs, develops and provides modern computer reservations systems to airlines and the travel industry, specializing in the hosting and distribution of airline sales.The system is connected to...
. Travicom
Travicom
Travicom was the trading name of Travel Automation Services Ltd a travel technology company based in the United Kingdom providing a global distribution system between airlines and travel agencies....
was a company launched by Videcom
Videcom international
Videcom International Limited is a United Kingdom travel technology company based in Henley-on-Thames, it designs, develops and provides modern computer reservations systems to airlines and the travel industry, specializing in the hosting and distribution of airline sales.The system is connected to...
, British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
, British Caledonian
British Caledonian
British Caledonian was a private, British independentindependent from government-owned corporations airline, operating out of Gatwick Airport in the 1970s and 1980s...
and CCL in 1976 which in 1988 became Galileo UK.
Recent Updates by the Company
- Travel Agents now also book Amtrak RailAmtrakThe National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
on the system and issue the tickets directly. - Southwest AirlinesSouthwest AirlinesSouthwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
has entered into a marketing agreement with Apollo/Galileo and travel agents are now able to book reservations directly on Southwest. These direct connects offer the possibility to sell ancillary services and to differentiate oneself from the competition. - The development team at Travelport has developed an online search tool called ASK Travelport where registered users can go and find out the answers to their frequently asked questions and queries.
- After the take over of Worldspan by Travelport, now both the entities are jointly called as Travelport GDS.
- In India, the distribution of both the GDS vests with InterGlobe.
- Recently Travelport and Amadeus held talks for a possible merger which would lead to the biggest GDS in the world.
External links
- Travelport.com, "Galileo"
- Travelport ViewTrip.com, public site for viewing reservations made through Galileo CRS
- Galileo.co.in, Galileo in India
- ITQ.in