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Online Travel

Skyscanner CEO: Great Engineering in Metasearch Beats Marketing Muscle

Andrew Sheivachman

Photo Credit: Skyscanner wants to become a branded storefront for airlines. Skyscanner co-founder and CEO Gareth Williams (left) speaking with Skift's Dennis Schaal at Skift Forum Europe in London on April 4, 2017.  Skift / Russell Harper

Skift Take

It's not a surprise that Skyscanner is looking to Chinese trends as it becomes a part of Ctrip. The storefront model it has outlined, however, is getting somewhat of a cold reception from competitors.

As traditional online travel agencies and metasearch sites look to the future, Skyscanner is focusing on becoming a branded storefront for airlines to sell their products. At Skift Forum Europe, Skyscanner CEO Gareth Williams discussed the process of integration following its acquisition by Chinese travel giant Ctrip and how online travel companies are embracing compromise between the online travel agency and meta models. "Ten years ago, if you wanted to start a travel company, you then

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