In the following section, we will examine how e-commerce has affected and is transforming some select industries. Online sales of software packages are skyrocketing, too. The growth of online travel agencies has exceeded analysts' expectations. One of the factors driving this growth is fierce competition among airline companies and travel agencies. Airline companies started online promotions and selling tickets directly to customers, in the process saving commissions and thus lowering ticket prices.
Airlines can also finetune their operations and marketing.
American Airline , for example, sends last minutes notice regarding available seats via e-mail to fill vacancies. Entirely novel approaches are being spawned. For example, Priceline set up a system which allows users to specify when and where they travel and to offer the price they are ready to pay. The company forwards the bid to participating airlines and makes profits on the spread between a bid and the final price. In the United States, online competition has started in the recently deregulated telecommunications and energy sectors.