Analysis of the Market Development of IATA-Accredited Airline Ticket Sellers in the Czech Republic

This diploma thesis focuses on the airline transportation market and ticket sellers, specifically those accredited through the IATA agency. To understand market developments and emerging trends, it was necessary to explain the structure of the ticket sales market and highlight key events over the years that have influenced both the evolution of sales and current trends. The aim of this thesis is to understand the market and competition in the field of airline ticket sales in the Czech Republic. Based on the results of semi-structured in-depth interviews, the thesis addresses the hypothesis: In the past five years, there has been a global shift in sales away from traditional IATA-accredited agents in favor of increased direct sales by airlines through their own websites. The results of the interviews demonstrate whether this trend is also significant among Czech companies and how it affects Czech ticket sellers. The thesis guides the reader from the history of air transport and the establishment of the IATA agency to the present day. It puts into context the importance, size, and development of the air transport market using globally monitored indicators. It focuses on the impact of IATA accreditation requirements and the challenges associated with compliance, particularly for travel agencies and ticket sellers over time. A part of the theoretical section is dedicated to the industry's close interconnectivity and vulnerability (e.g. COVID-19), as well as to changes in consumer behavior affecting the B2B segment (such as increased use of the internet and airline websites). Through trend analysis, it presents the main trends in the industry, such as modern retailing, NDC implementation, and the influence of metasearch engines. Thanks to the findings from the interviews, the thesis provides insights into the current dynamics of the airline ticket sales market in the Czech Republic.