Washington, July 02: Internet titan Google plunged into the online travel market, buying ITA Software, a flight information software company, for USD 700 million in cash.
Google’s purchase of the Massachusetts-based ITA yesterday raises prospects of a battle over the lucrative sector between the Web search giant and Expedia, Kayak, Orbitz, Microsoft’s Bing Travel and other sites.
Google said its acquisition of ITA, which was founded in 1996 by a team of computer scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, “will create a new, easier way for users to find better flight information online.”
“The acquisition will benefit passengers, airlines and online travel agencies by making it easier for users to comparison shop for flights and airfares,” the Mountain View, California-based company said in a statement.
–PTI