Global distribution system Amadeus has broken cover and says it is anticipating scrutiny by European regulators over Google's acquisition of ITA Software.
It is the first major travel technology provider to wade into the debate over the $700 million proposed deal for ITA Software.
The response follows recent murmurings over whether Google should be subject to the same regulatory framework as other GDSs in Europe over distribution of air tickets.
While declining to comment specifically on the Department of Justice review of the acquisition in the US, Amadeus says it is still developing a position and will eventually relay it to regulators, if called to do so.
But the situation in Europe is very different from antitrust issues around Google's dominance in the US marketplace.
The problem Google could potentially face is not around the subject of competition but regulation of its practices if and when the acquisition is completed.
Investigators at the European Commission are said to be concerned that Google’s dominance of the search market in Europe, coupled with how it decides to use the ITA technology, could seriously impact on consumers and their ability to compare air fares.
There are now increasing calls for the Commission to undertake a study as to whether Google should be seen in the same light as other air data firms, namely the global distribution systems.
Amadeus says:
"As Google has publicly stated, online (including search tools) has a potential global reach and we therefore believe that the European Commission will also analyse this transaction."
Placing Google alongside the GDSs (as it has done so itself with the travel technology ecosystem chart) within a regulatory framework also has the opportunity to trigger other major permutations.
The push to include Google in such a framework is considered by a number of those close to the situation to be primarily a GDS-led drive.