AeroTime is excited to welcome Ann Cederhall as our columnist. An instructor with IATA on Airline Distribution Strategy and with Aeroclass on Airline Retailing, Ann is a frequent speaker and panelist at industry events. She has authored numerous highly regarded articles and white papers in the travel industry press. As one of the owners of the consulting firm LeapShift, Ann brings an extensive track record of delivering business value in project and product management roles worldwide.  

The views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of AeroTime.    

In the mid-2000s low-cost carriers (LCCs) proved that they were able to lower distribution costs dramatically. They did not sell through the Global Distribution System (GDS), an intermediary used by traditional airlines, and they also unbundled baggage and seats selling them as ancillaries instead. This is what I call a direct connect, airlines selling directly and not through an intermediary.   

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