Airlines push for GDS deregulation

By Michael Clarke

AIRLINES are putting pressure on the European Commission to deregulate global distribution systems in a bid to save costs.

The EC is currently reviewing the GDS Code of Conduct, constructed when most GDSs were under ownership of airlines. Deregulation is one of the issues being discussed, which could mean airlines choose to restrict the number of GDSs they wish to sell through.

Lufthansa UK general manager Dieter Grotepass said: “From a carrier’s point of view, we would prefer an open competitive market.”