1971
United Airlines introduces the Apollo computer reservation system (CRS) for use in their own offices.
1976
United Airlines creates the Apollo Travel Services (ATS) division, and the Apollo CRS is marketed to travel agencies in North America and Japan.
1984
The Swiss Travel Agents Association is cooperating with Swissair to develop an IT-solution for the Swiss Market. 1st October 1984 is the official starting point for the project Traviswiss.
1986
Apollo Services, is renamed Covia, and independent affiliate of United Airlines.
1987
In response to the growing need for CRS automation in Europe , the Galileo Company Ltd is incorporated in and by shareholders British Airways, Swissair, KLM, Alitalia and Covia. United Airlines is selling 50% of the Covia shares to the above partners, creating the Covia Partnership. In the first access to the IT-system of Swissair (Traviswiss) is realized with Rewi Reisen in Wil/SG.
1991
OPAL, the mid-/backoffice solution for the Swiss market is sucessfully launched.
1993
TOURBO, the touroperator-booking solution for the Swiss market is successfully launched.
1993
The owners of the Covia Partnerhship and Galileo Company Ltd. Sign an agreement to found Galileo International Ltd., in order to become the world leading CRS. The complete Galileo Data Center based in Swindon, is transferred to Denver in the within 48 hours.
1995
1st January 1995; The Traviswiss project becomes a 100% affilate of Swissair and is named Traviswiss AG.
1997
Traviswiss is offereing Railticketing functionality to the Swiss market as first CRS. Galileo International Ltd is traded at the New York and Chicago Stock Market. Together with the IPO Galileo International Ltd is acquiring Apollo Travel Services, Galileo Netherland and Traviswiss AG.
1999
In Partnership with Umbrella U+O Organsiation AG, a project is launched to replace the OPAL mid-/backoffice solution in the Swiss market.
2000
CETS (Central European Touristic Solution), a product of Traviaustria is planned to replace TOURBO as the Swiss Touroperating-Platform.
2001
Cendant Corporation acquires Galileo International for approx. 2.9 Billion US$. The transaction combined Galileo with Cendant, a diversified global provider of business and consumer services, with a significant presence in the travel sector. Galileo is an important part of Cendant's Travel Distribution Services.
2002
Galileo International decides to become the global leader for E-Ticketing.
2003
Galileo Switzerland AG is replacing OPAL and TOURBO successfully with Umbrella NT and CETS.
2004
Galileo International signs full content deals with British Airways and Swiss which ensure Galileo Travel Agents as first the full content in the CRS of these Airlines.
2005
Galileo Leisure is successfully launched in the market and is one of the first real synergies out of the Cendant Family. The merchant model of Galileo Leisure allows Agents to book over 70’000 Hotels, 3'000 Appartments, 4'000 Cities, 1'200 Sightseeing Tours worldwide.
2006
Galileo International signs more full content deals with Lufthansa, Air France, KLM, Jetblue Airlways, Alaska Airlines, Northwest Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, US Airways, United Airlines, which ensure Galileo Travel Agents as first the full content in the CRS of these Airlines.
In August 2006 Cendant completes sale of Travelport (former Travel Distribution Services of Cendant) to Blackstone Group.
Travelport, one of the world’s largest and most geographically diverse travel companies is dedicated to creating the exceptional travel experiences the world demands. Across more than 130 countries and through a network of 8,000 local professionals, Travelport delivers greater choice, tremendous travel content and cost savings to travelers, travel professionals and travel suppliers every day. Travelport offers a wide range of business and consumer services, from distribution technology and travel packaging to retail sales and solutions. Travelport operates over 20 leading brands, including Orbitz, an online travel agency; Galileo, a global distribution system (GDS); and GTA, a wholesaler of global travel content.