Four airlines to launch Web site

Four of the five largest U.S. airlines said they will band together to start a multi-airline travel Web site, as they face growing competition from Internet companies offering low-priced air fares. United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Northwest Airlines and Continental Airlines are forming the service. The Web site will open in the first half of 2000, and travelers will be able to book airline, hotel and rental car accommodations. In recent years, airlines have seen the advent of Web sites like Travelocity and Microsoft Corp._s Expedia that allow consumers to quickly find the cheapest air fares, as well as Priceline.com Inc., which enables them to bid for tickets. Travelocity is operated by booking system operator Sabre Holdings Corp., which is 83 percent owned by AMR Corp — the parent of American Airlines and the only one of the top five U.S. airlines not involved in founding the new site. The airlines said the site will offer the most comprehensive selection of online air fares and other travel information available on the Web. It is expected to publish fares from virtually all carriers worldwide and will welcome the posting of Internet fares from other carriers as well, the airlines said. A spokesman for United said deals with individual airlines will have to be negotiated.
The four airlines will continue to independently operate and develop their respective Web sites.
Customers using the new site will also have access to real-time departure and arrival information from each of the participating airlines. The site will be managed independently of the suppliers, in part to avoid charges that the airlines are illegally conspiring to set prices, said Bruce Parker, United_s chief information officer. A management team and identity for the site will be named at a later date.