GDS deregulation could spark ‘battle royal’
A revamp of the GDS arena could still be three or four years away if the European Commission opt for a full deregulation of the industry, coalition group C-FARE has warned.
Brandon Mitchener, executive director of C-FARE – the Coalition for Fare Access to Reservations in Europe – said the move would unleash a “battle royal” which could last for years.
“If the EU go for full deregulation, which while unlikely remains a possibility, it could take three or four years to resolve,” he told TravelMole. “It would unleash a battle royal.”
Mitchener has previously stated that full deregulation in Europe would be bad news for European travellers as long as Amadeus is owned by airlines.
“Europe’s not ready to abandon some basic, time honoured consumer safeguards in the travel reservations business and won’t be as long as major airlines continue to own or control key travel reservation services,” he has said.
His comments emerged as the Association of Corporate Travel Executives issued a status report into GDS deregulation in Europe which predicted the EU could proceed with changes by mid to late 2006.
The report said that new entrants into the GDS market such as G2 Switchworks and ITA have “short term plans to enter the European market.”
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
In Italy, the Meloni government congratulates itself for its tourism achievements
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive