Another nail in the potential coffin of the existing GDS Code of Conduct after Amadeus said it supported the idea of regulation but others in the distribution foodchain should also face scrutiny.
Amadeus is the second of the three big GDSs to come out and call for a change to the regulatory framework in Europe, a process which in its current form does not oversee any online travel agencies, metasearch engines or other intermediaries.
The European Commissionsent a questionnaire to "stakeholders" in early August this year to gather information ahead of a formal review of the Code.
Days after the survey was published, Travelport president and CEO Gordon Wilson questioned the relevancy of the "out of date" and "hefty" Code, arguing that a level playing field is needed to protect consumers booking roughly half of air bookings in Europe that do not pass through a GDS.
The Code is a valuable process for ensuring the display of prices are uniform and correct, Wilson argues, with the consumer benefiting from having access to accurate information on websites and through retail travel agencies – and is a system that Travelport is happy to support.
Now Amadeus has taken its stance, albeit in slightly more guarded language.
Welcoming the current review, an Amadeus official says it is necessary as the air ticket distribution marketplace has "changed significantly and seen other relevant developments" in the years since the Code was last updated in 2008.
"Amadeus remains committed to its belief in the benefits that healthy travel intermediary distribution bring to the consumer and that the regulations should maintain a neutral and level regulatory playing field for all travel industry participants (not only GDSs).
"A well regulated market is ultimately in the best interest of all consumers."
Amadeus says it is will be submitting a detailed response to the review. The deadline has also been extended for a few weeks.
Sabre has yet to disclose its response to the review of the Code.