Business Travel News Europe
Business Travel News Europe
  • NEWSOpen Menu
    • Accommodation
    • Air Travel
    • Ground Transport
    • Management
    • Meetings
    • On the Move
    • Payment & Expense
    • Sustainability
    • Technology
    • TMC & Distribution
    • Travel Procurement
    • Recent Issues
  • FEATURESOpen Menu
    • View All Features
  • CONVERSATIONSOpen Menu
    • Interviews and Q&As
    • Guest columns
    • Podcasts
    • VIEW ALL CONVERSATIONS
  • RESOURCESOpen Menu
    • NEW! Europe's Leading TMCs 2025
    • Spotlight Series: Air travel 2025
    • The 2025 Hotlist
    • The 2024 Travel Manager Salary & Job Satisfaction survey
    • Spotlight Series: Ground transportation 2024
    • Ecosystem Play – the 2024 travel tech report
    • Navigating towards net zero
    • Taking Flight: Small & midsize travel programmes
    • Spotlight Series: Accommodation 2024
    • Spotlight Series: Air travel 2024
    • Meetings Management 2024
    • Spotlight Series: Travel management companies 2024
    • The 2024 Hotlist
  • EVENTSOpen Menu
    • Webinars
    • Business Travel Show Europe
    • Business Travel Awards Europe
    • Business Travel Sustainability Summit Europe
    • Entertainment Sports & Media Travel Summit
    • Business Travel Tech Talk
    • Strategic Meetings Summit
    • Business Travel Accommodation Summit
    • Business Travel Intelligence Summit Europe
    • Global Travel Risk Summit
    • VIEW ALL EVENTS
  • SUBSCRIBE
Business Travel News Europe
  • Business Travel News Europe on X
  • BTN Europe on LinkedIn
  • BTN Europe on Facebook
  • NEWS
    • Accommodation
    • Air Travel
    • Ground Transport
    • Management
    • Meetings
    • On the Move
    • Payment & Expense
    • Sustainability
    • Technology
    • TMC & Distribution
    • Travel Procurement
    • Recent Issues
    SubscribeBTN Europe newsletters
  • FEATURES
    • View All Features
    Introduction & MethodologyIntroduction & Methodology
    Europe's Leading TMCs 2025Europe's Leading TMCs 2025
    The UK's Leading TMCs 2025The UK's Leading TMCs 2025

  • CONVERSATIONS
    • Interviews and Q&As
    • Guest columns
    • Podcasts
    • VIEW ALL CONVERSATIONS
    Two minutes with... Jorien DielwartTwo minutes with... Jorien Dielwart
    Shai Weiss, CEO, Virgin AtlanticShai Weiss, CEO, Virgin Atlantic
    Two minutes with... Gehan CollianderTwo minutes with... Gehan Colliander
  • RESOURCES
    • NEW! Europe's Leading TMCs 2025
    • Spotlight Series: Air travel 2025
    • The 2025 Hotlist
    • The 2024 Travel Manager Salary & Job Satisfaction survey
    • Spotlight Series: Ground transportation 2024
    • Ecosystem Play – the 2024 travel tech report
    • Navigating towards net zero
    • Taking Flight: Small & midsize travel programmes
    • Spotlight Series: Accommodation 2024
    • Spotlight Series: Air travel 2024
    • Meetings Management 2024
    • Spotlight Series: Travel management companies 2024
    • The 2024 Hotlist
    Tools & ResourcesBTN AcademyBTN CommunitiesEurope's Leading TMCs 2024The Power ListBooking tools – the essential guideWho works with whom?The Spotlight SeriesThe HotlistThe Green ListTaking off: New routesOpening for business: New hotelsTraveller Experience IndexCorporate Travel IndexTravel entry requirementsBTN Europe podcastsGlossary of industry acronyms
  • EVENTS
    • Webinars
    • Business Travel Show Europe
    • Business Travel Awards Europe
    • Business Travel Sustainability Summit Europe
    • Entertainment Sports & Media Travel Summit
    • Business Travel Tech Talk
    • Strategic Meetings Summit
    • Business Travel Accommodation Summit
    • Business Travel Intelligence Summit Europe
    • Global Travel Risk Summit
    • VIEW ALL EVENTS
    8th Annual Strategic Meetings Summit London

    29 September 2025, Convene 200 Aldersgate, St.

    Business Travel Show America

    Javits Center, New York City - 15-16 October, 2025

    Business Travel Awards Europe

    21 October, JW Marriott Grosvenor House London

  • SUBSCRIBE

Technology

CMA raises Sabre-Farelogix competition fears

By Molly Dyson / 7 February 2020 / Contact Reporter
Business Travel News on X

The Competitions and Markets Authority (CMA) has raised concerns over the proposed acquisition of Farelogix by Sabre, saying that blocking the merger “may be the only way” of addressing competition issues.

In June 2019, the CMA launched an investigation into the acquisition, which was announced in 2018, to determine whether the merger would limit competition in the airline distribution market and therefore ‘reduce innovation’ in the industry.

The watchdog later slammed Sabre with a £20,000 fine in the second phase of its inquiry for failing to provide certain documentation before a deadline. At the time, the CMA claimed the company had submitted redacted versions of the documents, but later admitted they did not contain sensitive information.

Now the CMA has said its investigation has raised concerns that the merger “could result in less innovation, higher fees and more limited choice of supplier for airlines” and that “as a result, UK passengers would be worse off”.

The issue at hand is that Farelogix has developed NDC technology that will provide travel agents with the ability to offer customers more customisable options during the booking process, such as specific meals or ancillary products such as extra leg room or baggage.

Sabre is also investing heavily in the new distribution standard through its Beyond NDC programme, but the CMA is concerned that “if Sabre buys Farelogix it will not have the incentive to develop the technology itself and airlines, and ultimately their passengers, will lose out as the companies will not be competing with each other to provide a better product”.

As a result, the CMA said it believes the right decision would be to block the acquisition, but it is currently consulting on its provisional findings and is accepting input until 28 February.

Martin Coleman, chair of the CMA’s inquiry group, commented: “This is ultimately about passengers and their ability to get good value and innovative services when flying. For this to happen it’s really important that airlines have a good choice of supplier for this type of software solution to make sure services are cutting edge. Farelogix is at the forefront of a technological change in this industry and we are currently concerned that the merger will see airlines and their UK passengers miss out on the benefits from the continued innovation.”

A spokesperson for Sabre hit back at the statement, saying the company believes “no action should be taken by the CMA in this case because the CMA lacks jurisdiction and the transaction is pro-competitive”.

They added: “We continue to believe that the deal, far from resulting in any lessening of competition, is resoundingly pro-competitive. This transaction will serve the interests of airlines, travel agents and ultimately consumers. By bringing our two businesses together, we will accelerate access to next-generation retailing, distribution and fulfilment products and services that the market needs.

"We will continue to cooperate with the CMA throughout the remainder of the Phase 2 process, including in our response to the Provisional Findings and Notice of Possible Remedies, and outline the benefits of the transaction for all stakeholders involved."

Meanwhile, a court in the US state of Delaware has been hearing evidence in a Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit against Sabre in relation to the merger. BBT’s sister website The Beat has been reporting from the courtroom. To read the coverage, click here to subscribe.

More Technology
Related
mobile bookingBCD Travel partners with SkyLink for AI-based travel assistant
Innovation Faceoff 2025PredictX's Cogent wins Innovation Faceoff 2025 at Business Travel Show Europe
Navan to open up access to AI tech behind Ava assistantNavan to open up access to AI tech behind Ava assistant

SPONSORED CONTENT

Cathay Pacific: Elevating Your Business Travel Experience
Cathay Pacific: Elevating Your Business Travel ExperienceBy Cathay Pacific

As business travel accelerates, Cathay Pacific remains a leader, delivering seamless, end-to-end... KEEP READING

Experience brilliantly different
Experience brilliantly differentBy Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines

with Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines... KEEP READING

What we’re doing to make travel more accessible
What we’re doing to make travel more accessibleBy United Airlines

United Airlines is the largest airline in the world by available seat miles, offering flights to more... KEEP READING

More Technology

BCD Travel partners with SkyLink for AI-based travel assistant
PredictX's Cogent wins Innovation Faceoff 2025 at Business Travel Show Europe
Navan to open up access to AI tech behind Ava assistant
Tripstax highlights growth of non-GDS bookings through TMCs

VIEW ALL
  • Most Read
  • Most Shared
  1. French ATC strikes disrupt flights on Thursday and Friday
  2. Navan moves step closer to long-awaited IPO
  3. Middle East flights face continuing disruption despite ceasefire
  4. Europe’s Leading TMCs revealed for 2025
  5. Lufthansa Group and Airbus create customised SAF fare
  1. Advantage Travel Partnership adds AirPlus as partner
  2. Eight countries form coalition to tax ‘premium’ flyers
  3. Air France-KLM to take majority stake in SAS
  4. French ATC strikes disrupt flights on Thursday and Friday
  5. French high-speed rail company Velvet to commence services in 2028
Business Travel News EuropeBusiness Travel News Europe
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • EDITORIAL CALENDAR
  • Business Travel Show Europe
  • Business Travel News Europe on X
  • BTN Europe on LinkedIn
  • BTN Europe on Facebook
BUSINESS TRAVEL NEWS EUROPE
NORTHSTAR TRAVEL GROUP
Business Travel News Europe
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Advertise
  • Editorial calendar
  • Editorial guidelines
  • Subscribe to BTN Europe
  • Subscribe to BTN U.S.
  • Subscribe to Travel Procurement
  • Privacy policy
  • Terms & conditions
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Data
Northstar Travel Group
  • Corporate travel
  • Business Travel Show
  • Business Travel Awards
  • BTN U.S.
  • The Beat
  • Travel Procurement

  • Travel Technology
  • Travel Tech Show
  • Phocuswire
  • Phocuswright
  • Intelliguide
  • Meetings & incentives
  • M&IT
  • AMI
  • ConventionSource
  • M&IT Awards

  • Retail travel
  • Travel Weekly
  • Travel Pulse

  • Northstar Travel Group
  • View all Northstar brands
BTNGroup
Business Travel News EuropeBusiness Travel NewsTravel ProcurementThe BeatBusiness Travel Show Europe
Northstar Travel Group
Copyright ©2025, Northstar Travel Media Ltd, New London House,172 Drury Lane, WC2B 5QR
RRManagement rrtestprocurement