PROPOSED CHANGES TO the European code of conduct for global distribution systems ICRSs) could jeopardise commercial confidentiality and even traveller safety, the Guild of Travel Management Companies has warned.
CRSs are currently allowed to sell bookings data to airlines - who use it for yield management and capacity planning purposes - as tong as they do not reveal who has made the bookings.
Proposals in a report to the European Parliament leave out that "privacy clause".
The Guild is concerned that airlines could identify bookings made by individual travel management companies, and thus corporates themselves, and then apply commercial pressure.
Worse, if the data fell into the wrong hands, it could be used to identify travel patterns for particular companies and even individual travellers.
A KEY AMENDMENT to European Commission proposals for a revised CRS Code of Conduct has been drafted by the European Parliament. Against the background of airline ownership of 46 per cent of Amadeus, a number of travel indus bodies had argued that the name "parent :'' carrier" needed more careful definition.
The Transport Committee of the European Parliament has responded with a clear proposal that any capital or governing interest at all in a CRS should now mean that an airline is subject to the Code of Conduct.
Jonathan French, of International Airline Passengers Association said, "The original European Commission proposal concerned us because it left open the possibility of abuse by CRS-owning airlines. We are delighted that the amendment brings a measure of clarity and we trust that MEPs will support this to ensure that neutrality and transparency remain the guiding light of CRS airline displays".