Online agencies want the Competition and Markets Authority watchdog to investigate. They argue carriers should be mandated to provide OTAs access to flights “on a fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory basis”. Increasingly, budget airlines, particularly Ryanair, are refusing to sell via OTAs or are restricting supply.
The OTAs, made up of several key brands including On the Beach, Expedia, Skyscanner and eDreams under the Online Travel UK grouping, also want a code of conduct put in place. The group is supporting an On the Beach discussion paper, Safeguarding Consumer Choice in the Travel Sector, which it hopes will influence MPs.
