Travel groups concerned as Brussels seeks lower air fares

The European Commission adopted 15 November 2007 a proposal to simplify and modernise the two-decade-old rules for computerised reservation systems (CRS). These systems are used by travel agents to book airline tickets on behalf of their customers. The revised rules will allow CRSs and subscribing travel agents to expand their offer and better compete in the airline distribution market.

But many travel groups disputed the claim, saying that the Commission is dismantling safeguards that prevent airlines rigging CRS systems they owned to favour their flights.

European Commission: Press Release: IP/07/1702: More choice and lower costs when booking airline tickets: the Commission advocates more competition in airline ticket distribution http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1702&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

Website: C-FARE http://www.c-fare.org/

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