Travelport CEO Is ‘Super Skeptical’ About American Airlines Strategy
Photo Credit: Travelport CEO Gordon Wilson was in high spirits when his company debuted on the public markets in New York. Can he guide the company through an upcoming era of technological change? Travelport
Skift Take
American is creating a new distribution path that might tweak the role companies like Travelport play in distribution. Travelport boss Gordon Wilson tells us he's skeptical. We remain undecided.
Call him "super skeptical."
That's essentially Travelport chief executive Gordon Wilson's take on American Airline's newest distribution effort, which includes the airline paying agents $2 per segment for tickets booked via its new path.
Late last week, the global distribution system CEO spoke with Skift about recent airline moves to create direct connections -- moves that, at least in theory, run counter to the UK-based travel technology company's core distribution business and relationships with travel agencies and corporations.
When answering analyst questions Thursday during Travelport's second quarter earnings call and in speaking with Skift, Wilson essentially argued that American's new system is in several ways redundant to what companies like his can already provide.
He also argued that it leaves gaps in service that could be avoided if agents continue to rely on Travelport's offerings.
"There have always been different pipes in the industry," Wilson said. "The
