Online travel agencies are voicing their concerns over the acquisition of airline flight information aggregators ITA Software by Google. ITA is a Massachusetts-based firm which was set up in 1996 by a group of MIT scientists. The firm provides data on airfares, flight times and ticket availability to the travel industry. In short, it is the bridge between the airlines and the customer facing travel agents.

Google said that it has acquired ITA in order to supply users of its search engine with an easier and more convenient tool with which to access information about flights and airfares. The internet giant said that the acquisition was both pro-consumer and pro-competition.

However, some travel companies believe that Google will now own too much information and power over airline data which is crucial to their businesses. Agencies are concerned that if Google were to simply offer the information sourced by ITA through their search facility, it could short-circuit their businesses. Travel agencies are also concerned that they might now have less access to the rapidly changing information supplied by ITA.

Concern within the travel industry was reflected in Kayak’s alleged attempt to keep ITA out of Google’s hands. The online travel agency was reportedly backed by travel giant Expedia in its plans. However, ITA was already in exclusive talks with Google at the time and refused to enter into negotiations.

Robert Birge, chief marketing officer at Kayak, said that Google are already dominant in the general search market and now they have control over ITA’s relationship with the airline industry. He added that the matter was a definite cause for concern.