G2 SwitchWorks & ITA Software Discuss 'The Next Big Thing' in Airline Distribution at CASMA Conference; Will Lower Cost and More

G2 SwitchWorks & ITA Software Discuss 'The Next Big Thing' in
Airline Distribution at CASMA Conference; Will Lower Cost and More Technology
Be the Model? 


NEW YORK, Feb. 28  /PRNewswire/ -- CASMA (Computerized Airline Sales &
Marketing Association) will explore the challenges of the new emerging business
model in the Global Distribution Systems (GDS) space with two companies that
claim they have a better plan that costs less.  Join Jeremy Wertheimer,
president and CEO, ITA Software; Michael Harbin, vice president, G2
SwitchWorks; and, Steve Jarvis, staff vice president, Alaska Airlines; and,
Derek Lewitton, director, Distribution Strategy, United Airlines at 1:00 p.m.
Monday, March 21 for the opening session of the Spring 2005 Conference at the
Marriott Financial District, New York.

This interactive Town-Hall may need FDNY support as the sparks are guaranteed
to fly between the "New GDS" and the traditional GDS's, who dominate today's
airline distribution market.  The Town Hall format will enable conference
attendees to ask questions of the panelists to help them separate fact from
fiction and business marketing from business modeling.

ITA Software and G2Switchworks claim to be building systems to enable airlines
to distribute their products through travel agencies at a fraction of the cost
of a legacy GDS.  Airlines distribute airline seats through fare schedules and
ticket prices listed in various GDS's most of which were created by the
airlines in the mid-1970's. Travel agencies continue to produce more than half
of airline bookings through corporate business travel in the US and a greater
percentage worldwide.

Key questions include: If everyone is getting a cut where are the savings for
the airlines? What warranties do the new entrants bring in guaranteeing booking
and ticketing accuracy for the airlines?  What benefits do corporations have to
require adoption of alternative distribution channels? As travel agents will
not support multiple channels within their office, when do the alternative
distribution channels simply become another GDS? What will be included in the
first release? Will it work?

This industry critical discussion will take place in front of more than 30
airlines including American Airlines (NYSE:AMR), British Airways (NYSE:BAB),
Northwest Airlines (NASDAQ:NWAC), America West (NYSE:AWA) United Airlines
(OTC:UALAQ) (BULLETIN BOARD: UALAQ) , Air Canada, Korean Air, and Alitalia.

Contact Richard Lowry, CASMA Secretary at  to register for two free
press-passes.  http://www.casma.org/. 

DATASOURCE: Computerized Airline Sales & Marketing Association



CONTACT:  Richard Lowry, Secretary of Computerized Airline Sales &

Marketing Association, [phone], fax: [phone], or





Web site:  http://www.casma.org/ 

Copyright