Galileo to address access to its reservation system
January 2, 2006
Outcome of investigation
In 2003 The Competition Authority (“the Authority”) received a complaint from a travel technology developer, alleging that Galileo Ireland had unjustifiably refused access to its computerised reservation system.
The case was closed in 2006 when the Authority received undertakings from Galileo Ireland to address its concerns.
Outline of case
The Authority received a complaint from a travel technology developer, in March 2003, alleging that Timas Ireland, trading as Galileo Ireland, had unjustifiably refused access to its computerised reservation system. At the time, Galileo Ireland operated a computerised reservation system used by most travel agents in Ireland. It was alleged that the refusal was preventing the development of new technology for the travel industry that would enable travel agents to search more effectively and efficiently for information, such as airfares, on behalf of their customers.
The Authority investigated this complaint primarily as a possible abuse of a dominant position. The Authority agreed to conclude its investigation without recourse to legal proceedings having received legally binding commitments from Galileo Ireland to deal with future requests for access to its computerised reservation system in an open, transparent, proportionate and non-discriminatory manner.
Galileo Ireland asserted that its behaviour was not in breach of the Competition Act and denied that the facts alleged in the complaint were true. Nevertheless, in the interest of resolving the investigation, Galileo Ireland offered to give undertakings to the Authority.
Relevant provision
Section 5 of the Competition Act 2002
Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union
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