Hugely interesting development in Asia-Pacific with news that Expediahas entered into a joint partnership with low cost carrier AirAsia.
The pair will launch a new company (confirmed as a 50:50 partnership) to operate Expedia’s branded businesses in Japan, East and South East Asia as well as the carrier’s AirAsiaGoand GoRooms platforms.
Perhaps most significantly the deal will see online distribution rights in the region for AirAsia and long haul division AirAsia only through the AirAsia websites and Expedia.
Such is the importance of the deal to Expedia that legendary heavyweight of online travel, chairman Barry Diller, was on-hand in Singapore to announce the partnership with AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes.
Expedia’s inventory on the hotel end (130,000 properties) will see a dizzying array of packages now made available through AirAsiaGo, as well as AirAsia-led flight and package deals through the Expedia-branded sites in the region.
Read the full story at: http://www.tnooz.com/2011/03/29/news/expedia-and-airasia-unite-for-major-strategic-joint-venture/
