Interview: Skyscanner CEO on Mobile and Direct Bookings
Skift Take
Skyscanner launched in the Americas about a year ago, and it seems as though things are going slowly for now. But, the search site has plenty of patience, believing these are just the early days of online travel.
Editor’s Note: Skift is publishing a series of interviews with online travel CEOs talking about the Future of Travel Booking, and the evolving habits and device preferences of travel consumers. Check out all the interviews as they come out here.
Scotland-based Skyscanner is following a path that other travel metasearch companies are embarking on: The company is working on enabling direct bookings within its own apps, making it easier for consumers to continue their searches from device to device, and expanding into new markets such as the Americas.
Skyscanner co-founder and CEO Gareth Williams believes a key differentiator for the company is in its breadth of coverage in terms of possible itineraries and travel agency booking options, and undoubtedly, as a tech-focused company, it will put its own stamp on some of its new focus areas.
Skift discussed the future of travel booking and related issues with Williams.
An edited version of the interview follows:
Skift: Skyscanner operates in about 40 markets around the world, from the UK and the U.S. to China, and in some 30 languages. What sorts of trends are your seeing in users’ booking
