Air France-KLM partners with Winding Tree to tap blockchain potential

Air France-KLM, a Franco-Dutch airline holding company, has partnered with Swiss travel platform Winding Tree to bring blockchain benefits to the travel industry.

The companies will collaborate to leverage blockchain technology in order to provide “a more advantageous travel offer for customers which is more profitable for suppliers” by reducing the number of intermediaries.

“With Blockchain technology, we aim to revolutionize exchanges within the travel industry for our customers, companies and start-ups,” said Sonia Barrière, EVP Strategy and Innovation at Air France-KLM.

Founded in June 2017, Winding Tree is a blockchain-based decentralized open-source travel distribution platform. Its decentralized B2B marketplace system would enable startups and companies to gain direct access to travel service providers' offerings without the need for intermediaries.

Air France-KLM said that it will support Winding Tree's technological developments by testing the technology and providing feedback as the development progresses.

Winding Tree is already working with a number of major aviation companies including Air New Zealand, Lufthansa, and Swissport, among others.