Articles tagged “amazon”

Airline IPOs are few and far between. That's why now, while the industry is staggering from its worst-ever crisis, may seem an odd time to go public. But Sun Country has always done things differently, and its cargo deal with Amazon may make it more attractive to investors.

Amazon bowed out of the hotel business a couple of times, is dabbling with flight bookings in India, and seems to have found a sweet spot in cheap, virtual experiences. With all of those tour operator partners now in the fold, post-pandemic, in-person tours and activities is likely on the to-do list.

Airlines are increasingly using application programming interfaces, or APIs, to distribute their fares. That could let Amazon and other companies more easily sell tickets. That opens up an opportunity for tech players.

Booking.com has prided itself on being a household name in its European home base, but will have a tough time avoiding a European Commission designation of gatekeeper. Such stature could bring increased restrictions.

Star Alliance says its move to Amazon Web Services has let it more quickly enhance many passengers' processes. That's promising news because a lot of digital innovation is still needed for booking and traveling on international itineraries served by more than one carrier.

Will soundbites like "Zoom parties every day, every night" and other headline-grabbing quotes influence perceptions of the value of business travel, or do we take them with a pinch of salt?

The travel industry is clearly being dealt a blow by company travel bans, but could anyone have pictured an amount on this scale?

Tripadvisor CEO Steve Kaufer may be underestimating the threat competitors pose to its tours and activities business, a segment the company may see as its largest opportunity. But it's true that Airbnb is only going after a small slice of that market for now, and Amazon's intentions are unclear.

In the school of online travel hard knocks, new entrants have learned that barriers to entry can be substantial. Amazon, Google, and Airbnb should realize that the devil is in the details, and the complexities.

Amazon is dipping into virtual tours. Competitors should fear that Amazon is primed for disruption, virtual or otherwise.