The Star Alliance has signed deals with two of the GDS new entrants (GNEs) to provide its 16 members with an alternative distribution platform.
The agreements with G2 Switchworks and ITA Software were announced at Star Alliance's bi-annual meeting of its board of chief executives in Montreal.
Jaan Albrecht, Star's ceo, described the new contracts as a "milestone" and a "historic moment."
He added: "They will mean added competition and different distribution channels and will help us to assist our carriers in getting lower distribution costs.
"Together with G2 Switchworks and ITA Software we will move forward in setting new industry standards in the area of airline distribution."
Alex Zoglin, ceo and founder of G2, said the deal showed that his company was being recognised for introducing "a new era of distribution freedom for the industry."
Mr Zoglin, who previously helped found the online agency Orbitz, said his product was already providing content form major US and low cost airlines which include United.
Under the deal, Star said its 16 members - due to be joined by two more, Swiss and South African Airways in 2006 – will enter into detailed discussions with the two GNEs to "build a tailor-made solution for their specific requirements."
The deal will be first implemented in North America by the local Star members, United, US Airways and Air Canada.
It will be expanded to Europe and Asia in the next 18 months.
Star, among whose leading members are United and Lufthansa, first announced it planned to approach GNEs - Star calls them Alternative Content Access Platforms (ACAPs) - after its board meeting in Japan in June.
It sent out requests for proposals to four GNEs in August, including G2 and ITA, the two largest companies.
Horst Findeisen, Star's vp commercial, said that while costs from traditional GDSs had been "relatively stable" the opportunities offered by the GNEs "were too good to ignore."
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