The floodgates have opened – last week’s frenzy of activity, when Expedia and then TripAdvisor submitted complaints to the European Commission about Google, has clearly triggered something.
To paraphrase, as both pretty much argue the same thing, the complaints centre on accusations of unfair practices in search which, the pair argue, is damaging the industry and consumers.
No major surprises there, given that Expedia and TripAdvisor were original members of the FairSearch anti-Google lobbying group in the US.
What raised just a few eyebrows was when, a few hours after TripAdvisor’s statement was released, ETTSA (European Technology and Travel Services Association) came out in support of the pair.
ETTSA primarily represents the interests of the GDSs, as well as online travel agencies such as Expedia, Ebookers and Travelocity, in Brussels, but the decision to publicly back individual companies effectively puts the GDSs, under the umbrella of their representative body, also up against Google.
Fast forward a few days and now Amadeus has decided to publicly back Expedia’s complaint to the EC.