BRITISH Midland has joined 22 US and foreign carriers in the United, Delta, Northwest and Continental Web site.
More carriers are being courted to join in posting their Internet-only fares on the site along with a direct-booking service for hotels and car rentals.
US agents say the launch of a consolidated site from major US and foreign carriers is a tactic meant to push them out of the market.
A statement from the American Society of Travel Agents said: “The action is part of a plan to drive agents off the Internet and increase their stranglehold on the industry.”
ABTA chief executive Ian Reynolds said he didn’t think the venture would threaten the UKtrade. “You can book those airlines on the Net anyway – this is just a new development.”