Tourexpi
The
American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) submitted
its response to the jointly issued Request
for Information (RFI) from the Departments of Transportation and
Justice relating to the state of competition in air travel.
In
the decades following airline deregulation in 1978, mergers and acquisitions
approved by the DOJ have contributed to an alarming decline in competition in
the U.S. airline industry, resulting in both higher prices and fewer choices
for consumers. ASTA formally
brought these concerns to the attention of both
agencies more than a year ago, and welcomed the opportunity presented
by the RFI to share our members’ views on this critically important issue.
There is a significant degree of interdependence between airlines and the
various intermediaries, such as the global distribution systems (GDSs),
traditional travel agencies and travel management companies (TMCs), adding a
layer of complexity to the analysis.
In
summary, ASTA's
RFI response underscores the integral role that distribution
intermediaries play in protecting the interests of consumers. Topics relevant
to competition that are discussed in ASTA’s filing include:
-
Airline deregulation
-
Air carrier consolidation
-
Airport capacity and access
-
Immunized international alliances
-
New Distribution Capability (NDC)
-
Channel price discrimination
-
Airline reward programs
-
Intermediary aggregation
To
ensure that air ticket distribution intermediaries can compete on an equal
footing with the airlines themselves, regulators must ensure that air carriers
provide the GDSs with full access to fare, ancillary, schedule, and
availability information. Likewise, airlines must not be permitted to utilize
their substantial market power to disadvantage, pricewise or otherwise, the 40
percent of consumers who prefer to book air tickets through the travel agency
distribution channel. Transparency is essential if the air transportation
market is to function in a manner most likely to consistently deliver a high
level of service at the lowest possible price.
ASTA
looks forward to working with the incoming Trump administration to advance its
positions outlined in its RFI response and is eager to support the advancement
of the U.S. travel economy.
Image
Credit: © AA
The most interesting news


Seabourn announces new ocean and expedition itineraries for 2027–2028
Ultra-luxury cruise line Seabourn has released its 2027 summer ocean and 2027–2028 expedition schedules, offering 111 departures across 72 unique itineraries to 369 destinations in 71 countries on all seven continents.


Ryanair to open new base in Tirana für Summer 2026
Ryanair, Albania’s fastest-growing airline, today announced that it will open a new base at Tirana Airport in April 2026, with three Boeing 737-800 aircraft based there.


Empowering youth entrepreneurship in the Dominican Republic
TUI Care Foundation supports new ecotourism experiences.


IHG Accelerates Growth in Thailand with Introduction of voco Hotels to Phuket
175-key voco Phuket Bangtao to open in 2029 as brand’s third signing in the country.


Recovery Prospects for Germany’s Incoming Tourism after a Challenging First Half of 2025
After a first half marked by trade disputes and geopolitical tensions that unsettled consumers in many source markets, the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) now sees signs of renewed interest among potential visitors from key markets for the remai


Agoda and ASEAN Launch ‘A Destination for Every Dream’ Campaign on ASEAN Day
Digital travel platform Agoda, in partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has launched the ‘A Destination for Every Dream’ campaign to inspire and promote travel within the ASEAN region.


Spain: Tourism employment exceeds 3 million for the first time outside the traditional high season
In the second quarter of 2025, the tourism sector recorded 3,024,347 people in employment — a 2% increase compared with the same period in 2024 — marking the first time that tourism employment has surpassed the 3-million mark outside the months t


Tourism Employment in Spain Reaches 2.98 Million in July, Up 2.9% Year-on-Year
Employment in Spain’s tourism sector continued to grow at a steady pace in July, reaching 2.98 million workers affiliated with the Social Security system, according to data published by Turespaña.


WTTC Unveils First Wave of Speakers for 25th Global Summit in Rome
Landmark event to bring together world leaders in Travel & Tourism.


Ice and equator: Hapag-Lloyd Cruises presents experiences in the world’s most remote places
From the icy expanses of the Northwest Passage to the sun-drenched lagoons of the South Pacific, Hapag-Lloyd Cruises is offering extraordinary expedition routes aboard its small, highly manoeuvrable expedition ships.


RED Goes Green: Radisson RED Oslo City Centre Opens as a Verified Net Zero Hotel
Radisson Hotel Group proudly announces the opening of Radisson RED Oslo City Centre, one of the first two hotels worldwide to achieve Verified Net Zero status.


Switching Off in Style and Silence: The Most Beautiful Travel Destinations for Digital Detox
Constant availability, packed schedules, and endless scrolling define the everyday lives of many people. Digital Detox means deliberately going offline to create space for nature, relaxation, and genuine encounters.


Qatar Airways to Begin Operations at JFK’s New Terminal One by 2026
Qatar Airways, recently named World’s Best Airline 2025 by Skytrax for a record ninth time, has announced that it will relocate its New York operations to The New Terminal One at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in 2026.


Klook Launches First Multi-Market Partnership to Enhance Muslim Travel Experience
Klook and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) have announced the launch of their first-ever multi-market campaign, designed to position Hong Kong as a welcoming and inclusive destination for Muslim travelers.


Thailand Takes Centre Stage as Bangkok Hosts Nas Summit 2025
Landmark content creator summit reinforces Thailand’s role in global creative tourism.


W Hotels debuts in the all-inclusive segment with the opening of W Punta Cana
W Hotels, part of Marriott Bonvoy, together with Grupo Puntacana and MAC Hotels, has announced the opening of W Punta Cana, Adult All-Inclusive, the brand’s first all-inclusive resort worldwide.


Celebrity River Cruises Launches Priority Booking Access for Inaugural 2027 Season
Celebrity Cruises is expanding its premium offering with the launch of Celebrity River Cruises, entering the river cruise market in 2027.


Bangkok Crowned the World’s Best City for Gen Z in Time Out’s 2025 Global Ranking
Bangkok has officially been named the world’s best city for Gen Z, topping Time Out’s first-ever global ranking dedicated to the under-30 generation.


Wego Partners with Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency Aiming At MENA Travelers
Wego, the leading travel app and the largest online travel marketplace in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), has announced a partnership with the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) to launch a regional campaign promoting T


Lufthansa Marks 60 Years of Flights to Singapore
Lufthansa is celebrating six decades of connecting Singapore with Germany.


Delta expands seamless travel experience with faster bag drop, security and connections
Delta is rolling out a series of innovations designed to make travel smoother and more efficient for its customers — on the ground and in the air.
