Amadeus has decided to support Expedia’s complaint to the European Commission that Google Flight Search is abusing Google’s dominant position on the Internet. The EC opened its investigation into Google in November 2010. Amadeus said its decision to back Expedia’s complaint was “in the long-term best interests of the travel industry as a whole”.
The GDS said: “Amadeus has been carefully considering the impact of recent developments and listening to the understandable concerns of those affected – in particular online travel agencies. Amadeus shares the same concerns as Expedia and is therefore supportive of its decision to file a complaint against Google with the European Commission.
“For decades travel agents have added value as intermediaries by providing consistent, high-quality and reliable services that allow travellers to find the best value and most appropriate travel solutions from the widest possible range of travel providers.
“It is critical to ensure that Google Flight Search does not mislead consumers into believing that Google offers comprehensive and neutral results, whereas in fact they may be biased, favouring Google’s own services even if they are of a lower quality and an even higher price than other services offered by independent travel distributors.
“It also leads to consumers potentially missing out on the best price available in the market, and limits fair competition between airlines.”
