November 15, 1999
Four major airlines are getting into the
Web travel business. United, Delta, Continental and Northwest are
investing more than $100 million in a new Web site that will sell
airline tickets, hotel and car rentals and other travel services on the
Web.
They'll be going after the two dominant
travel sites -- Travelocity, which is controlled by American Airlines'
parent company, and Expedia, a Microsoft property.
The new site, expected to be online in
early 2000, targets price-sensitive tranvelers and will provide searches
both by schedule and price. The airlines say the site will also
seek out and offer Internet-only fares on all airlines. At
present, only Intellitrip.com routinely collects all the Internet
specials.
Each of the airlines already operates its
own Web site aimed at travelers loyal to that airline. Those sites
will continue to operate independently of the new joint venture.
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