What do the airline execs think of
Google's planned acquisition of ITA Software? They're not really saying, and in many cases they probably don't know. Contacted Wednesday, most carriers declined to comment, although Lufthansa and Southwest Airlines offered some words.
On 3 April in Cologne, Germany, corporate travel managers will convene a customer hearing to shine a bright light on
Lufthansa's infamous Preferred Fares Program (PFP) during the VDR Spring Conference. Members of the press expert in travel distribution will join travel managers in questioning industry participants about PFP. At the witness table will be one empty chair--the Lufthansa chair--as the airline refuses to sit next to Amadeus and airline competitors and answer tough but legitimate questions and concerns from its best customers and from journalists.
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.
