Cloud Software and Web-based software - Defining the difference

[allinson.gm]

Hi everyone,

I'm currently looking into a strategy case study, and was wondering if anyone could shed some light onto a query I have...

Talking in the context of an airline company's booking systems:

What is the difference between having multiple website based booking system (for various airlines within the group) which are run from independent servers, to a cloud based booking system?

Would a cloud based booking system in this sense just mean that the application is run on a cloud based server? If that is a public cloud, I can see the benefits, but if it was a private cloud would it make any difference?

I guess what I'm asking is - what is the difference between an airline website with a booking system and a cloud based booking system?

Hope I make sense. Thanks in advance!

G.