Airline Business, February 2012
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Within five months of the ITA Software deal closing in April 2011, Google launched Google Flight Search (GFS) in the USA. GFS, which despite being live is officially still in testing, searches inventory and fares from airline websites, giving users a direct link to the airline's booking page. At the moment GFS is limited to major airlines and key domestic routes, but it includes filters so users can search by budget, departure times and location-specific tools.
Datalex CEO Cormac Whelan sees little impact so far, citing its low-key launch, its promotion of commoditisation and that airlines - the owners of the product - have not yet decided how to adopt it. "I think airlines will be a lot smarter and wiser this time around and will be less likely to let somebody else control their distribution. Longer term we think it will be a good feeder channel into the airlines direct distribution strategies…"
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About Datalex Datalex is a market leader in digital commerce for travel retail. The Datalex Digital Commerce Platform provides airlines with a unique solution to drive revenue and profit as digital retailers. Today the platform enables a travel marketplace of over one billion shoppers covering every corner of the globe, driven by some of the world’s most innovative airline retail brands. The Group is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, and maintains offices across Europe, the USA and China. Datalex plc is a publicly listed company on Euronext Dublin (DLE). What we do Datalex empowers airlines to be digital retailers. With more than 800 capabilities, including Offer & Order Management, our Platform offers airlines the ability to deliver a competitive and differentiated airline retail experience on every device, across every sales channel and at every touchpoint in the customer journey. Contact us to understand more about our Digital Commerce Platform. |