Lufthansa Systems, SWISS International Air Lines Explore Blockchain Solutions for Travel

• A Web3 hackathon in Frankfurt brought together 13 teams to build functioning blockchain solutions for the travel industry.
• The challenge saw the creation of decentralized ID systems, collaborative group booking platforms, and more.
• Some leading travel companies are already utilizing blockchain technologies.

Travel and tech companies at a recent hackathon in Frankfurt have built new blockchain tools and solutions for the travel industry, which they say could dramatically change how flights and travel services are sold, paid for, and managed.

Organized by Lufthansa Systems and Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS) in partnership with the Camino Network Foundation, the 48-hour challenge saw 13 teams create practical new approaches to blockchain travel.

Real-World Travel Applications

According to a news release sent to CCN, the hackathon challenged the teams to create practical implementations of blockchain-focused travel products on the Camino Network.

Camino Network is a public and permissioned blockchain specifically designed for the travel industry. It promises to transform the industry by directly connecting providers like airlines and travel agencies with users through decentralized technology.

Hackathon challengers focused on creating new avenues for travel-focused payment methods, CO₂ offsetting, and personalized group travel.

Currency exchange firm Unimoni created a system that integrated 300,000 non-IATA travel agencies in India into the Camino Network, including local payment methods. The team said this opened up vast new market potential at significantly lower costs.

Meanwhile, SWISS and its Digital Hangar unit created a solution that enhanced Travel-ID with Web3 wallet integration.

The system enables management of digital credentials, vouchers, and other real-world assets. This kind of decentralized identity management aims to offer more security and flexibility to airlines and travelers.

Hotelplan Group, a large European travel firm, developed a group booking solution that allowed travelers starting from different locations but heading to the same destination to book together while paying separately.

Future Potential

The results from the hackathon aimed to highlight how blockchain has the power to boost accessibility and flexibility in the travel industry.

Mickael Woelcke, project manager at SWISS and one of the hackathon’s main initiators, said:

“The commercial potential of this technology is promising – especially with faster and more efficient partner integration and significantly reduced distribution costs.”

“It’s now up to the industry to carry these advances forward and turn them into sustainable, market-ready solutions.” he added.

According to Chain4Travel CEO Pablo Castillo, Hotelplan’s group payment service could lead to cost savings of up to 98% and improved sustainability of up to 50%.

Travel Industry and Blockchain

The travel industry has started looking into blockchain to innovate online travel.

German travel giant TUI uses a blockchain-based system called BedSwap to verify and locate hotel bed inventory in real time across various markets.

The system eliminates TUI’s need for any third parties, such as Expedia, and simplifies its process of offering hotel rooms.

In 2018, former CEO of TUI Group Friedrich Joussen claimed blockchain was “the next internet.”

Meanwhile, blockchain-focused platforms like GOeureka are seeking to decentralize the hotel booking process, sidestepping large booking fees imposed by leading online travel agencies.

For air travel and data, companies like blockchain firm FlightChain are working on unifying flight information on a distributed ledger.

The aim is to remove contradicting data silos from a variety of sources to provide more accurate details for customers.