Technoglitch
Core Member
Google announced on Wednesday that it's shutting down an automated airfare data feed in a move that could kneecap third-party travel booking sites as the search giant pushes its own competing tools.
The platform, which is set to close in April of next year, has been used to power pricing features on major travel services and airline sites like Orbitz and United Airlines, according to TechCrunch. A Google spokesperson told Bloomberg the shutdown was due to "low interest."
Google is shutting down an airfare search API in a setback for travel booking competitors
At the same time, it'll push people toward using Google's own flight searches and tracking; it's a move that's good for Google and basically no one else. Five years ago, Google bought ITA Software, the company behind an airfare search system known as QPX, which is used by Bing Travel and CheapTickets, and airlines including American and United. At the time the Department of Justice approved the acquisition under the condition that Google would keep the API public for five years. That five years is now over.
Google will no longer offer its flight price data to other sites
The platform, which is set to close in April of next year, has been used to power pricing features on major travel services and airline sites like Orbitz and United Airlines, according to TechCrunch. A Google spokesperson told Bloomberg the shutdown was due to "low interest."
Google is shutting down an airfare search API in a setback for travel booking competitors
At the same time, it'll push people toward using Google's own flight searches and tracking; it's a move that's good for Google and basically no one else. Five years ago, Google bought ITA Software, the company behind an airfare search system known as QPX, which is used by Bing Travel and CheapTickets, and airlines including American and United. At the time the Department of Justice approved the acquisition under the condition that Google would keep the API public for five years. That five years is now over.
Google will no longer offer its flight price data to other sites