WASHINGTON -- Not for Orbitz.
That was the March 26 message from the Interactive Travel
Services Association, which backed federal aid to the airlines --
but said none of that money should go to airline-owned Orbitz.
Antonella Pianalto, who heads ITSA, agreed with an ASTA letter
to the Transportation Dept. supporting "rational measures to keep
the airline industry solvent until recovery becomes possible."
However, the executive director of ITSA, which includes the GDSs
and online rivals of Orbitz such as Travelocity and Expedia, wants
to ensure that Orbitz doesn't receive any of this federal
largess.
"It is inappropriate for the airlines owning Orbitz to seek
federal relief at the same time they continue to funnel money to
Orbitz, which has lost them hundreds of millions," Pianalto
said.