The American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) has called on regulators to level the playing field between air ticket distribution intermediaries and airlines. In a recent release, ASTA emphasized that air carriers must provide Global Distribution Systems (GDSs) with full access to essential information such as fares, ancillary services, schedules, and availability. This move, according to ASTA, is necessary to ensure fair competition in the industry.
ASTA further stressed that airlines should not be allowed to leverage their market power to disadvantage the 40% of consumers who prefer booking air tickets through travel agency distribution channels. Transparency in air ticket pricing and availability, they argued, is crucial for ensuring that the air transportation market operates effectively, offering the best possible service at the lowest possible price.
The Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) launched a public inquiry on this issue last October, which has sparked mixed reactions across the industry. While ASTA welcomed the inquiry and the opportunity to voice its concerns, the U.S. Travel Association criticized it as “another in a long line of disappointing political stunts.”
