UAL Corp. chairman and CEO Glenn Tilton spoke at the airline industry's Wings Club in New York Thursday, and focused his
prepared comments on familiar topics: taxes are excessive, infrastructure is inadequate, regulation is outdated and industry behavior is dysfunctional. He talked about
possible industry consolidation, but was reluctant to answer analysts' and reporters' questions about the
JAL saga beyond saying he hopes it continues to be a distraction for his two primary competitors. Tilton also answered a few questions of mine on corporate accounts and information technology.
The Interactive Travel Services Association commissioned PhoCusWright to produce a paper outlining the "role and influence" of the global distribution systems. You can
get it here. For most industry participants, the paper will contain little new information. It looks more like a primer that GDS companies reportedly
planning to go public can hand out to potential investors and analysts. If I can be permitted to stereotype, the GDS role is as familiar to such folks as is the dark side of the moon (not the album). ITSA executive director Art Sackler declined to answer my question on whether the paper's timing is related to IPOs, but nevertheless, I have to agree with him that such a paper "was long past due."
Global distribution system regulatory reviews tend to take, well, forever. Okay, maybe Canada was quick. Anyway,
Travolution noted here that the
European Parliament has scheduled a debate on the European review for Sept. 3, "with a vote the next day." If approved, the revised code would be considered by the wider European Commission for ratification, "with the new rules coming into force towards the end of Q1 09,"
Travolution reported. Most interesting will be any determination about whether Amadeus' three part-owning airlines will still be bound by rules on equal play with other GDSs. Mostly, though, it seems people are just ready for a conclusion already. Asked in July about what he expects, Sabre Holdings chairman and CEO Sam Gilliland said, "It's hard to know. It ebbs and flows. I would hope that it's dragged on for long enough, and it would be nice to get to some resolution over the next couple months."
Click here for a timeline on the current EC review.
