MEPs have voted decisively in the European Parliament to adopt proposals for CRS reform which keep in place a tight definition of "parent carrier."
At the Parliament's plenary session in Brussels today (September 4), they voted 496 against 103, with 23 abstentions, to adopt a report on CRS reform.
The report contains a tight definition of "parent carrier" which was agreed between the Parliament's transport committee, the European Councils which represents national transport ministers and the EC itself.
The approved definition now states: "'parent carrier' means any air carrier or rail-transport operator which directly or indirectly, alone or jointly with others, controls or participates in the capital with rights or representation on the board of directors, supervisory board or any other governing body of a system vendor, as well as any air carrier or rail-transport operator which it controls."
This covers any carrier which has a place on the board of a CRS or the right of veto of its conduct. Basically it is aimed at carriers which are "shareholders with influence."
The report largely follows the recommendations of Mr Timothy Kirkhope, a UK MEP who drew up the transport committee's recommendation for reform of the CRSs in Europe.
In a statement, MR Kirkhope's office said: "The code will ensure consumers are given greater choice and clearer information when booking their flights, which it is believed will create stronger competition and - according to the European Commission - could reduce ticket prices by as much as ten percent."
Mr Kirkhope, the Conservative spokesman on transport in the Parliament, said: "The current CRS system allows the airlines that have shares in them to favour their own companies, which distorts competition and drives up prices.
"We must ensure that flight information provided by airlines to CRSs and travel agents is timely and comprehensive, so that consumers are given the fairest and fullest possible choice available.
"Consumers will be able to make far better informed decisions when they book their tickets. This system gives consumers more options - over the carrier they wish to use, and whether they wish to opt for a more environmentally-friendly alternative to flying."
A spokesman for Mr Kirkhope told BTE that the new definition should be tight enough to include Air France, Lufthansa and Iberia as parent carriers.
The three airlines have together a 46.4% holding in Amadeus.
The report adopted by the Parliament will now go before the European Council of Ministers.