TRAVEL WEEKLY BUSINESS
IATA WARNED THAT NDC ‘COULD LEAD TO DISCRIMINATIVE PRACTICES’ OVER FARES
Ian Taylor
An advisory body on data protection to the European Commission has issued “a stern warning” to airline association Iata on its New Distribution Capability (NDC). The Article 29 Data Protection Working
Party (WP29), made up of representatives of the data protection authorities of EU member states, has written to Iata noting the potential of NDC “to change business processes used to offer and sell flight tickets”. Its letter warns that the NDC initiative “could lead to discriminative practices” in the way airlines offer fares to customers. The letter notes: “The NDC initiative may
result in a remarkable change in terms of personal data processing . . . in the air travel market.” The working party has refrained from
taking a formal position “at this point . . . given the current uncertainty on the way the NDC initiative will be developed”. However, it says the personal-data
processing involved in any NDC application “must comply with European and national legal frameworks”. The letter “notes in particular that
Iata has expressed ‘its intent to preserve anonymous shopping’” and states: “The WP29 will closely follow the developments resulting from this initiative. “The WP29 would also remind the
interested parties that, in some member states, national data protection authorities must be consulted before commencing any processing.”
Christoph Klenner: ‘It is a stern warning’
POWELL RETURNS TO COMTEC AS RUSSELL
COMPLETES BUYOUT Comtec chief executive Mike Russell has completed a buyout of the company for an undisclosed sum with backing from its founder Simon Powell and investor Finance Wales. The company, which is based in Cwmbran, South
Wales, is a travel technology supplier that works with the likes of dnata, Tui and Thomas Cook. It was founded in 1995 by Powell, and was sold in a management buyout backed by RJD Partners in 2008.
Russell, who was previously chief executive of
“The working party has taken the strongest possible position in the circumstances”
The European Technology and Travel Services Association (Ettsa), which represents leading travel technology companies and online travel agencies, hailed the letter from the working party, saying: “It is a stern warning, which we welcome.” Ettsa secretary-general Christoph Klenner said: “The working party has taken the strongest possible position in the circumstances. A formal opinion would be premature given NDC is not implemented yet. This leaves space for Iata and stakeholders, including Ettsa, to work through the privacy concerns.” The letter notes: “Data collection and
processing practices associated [with] the implementation of the NDC initiative… could lead to discriminative practices derived from profiling.”
Vertical Systems, said his immediate aim was to develop new customer relationships, launch products and grow Comtec’s existing client base. He said: “We are delighted to have secured
capital to build upon our exciting development plans. Our products are well-established in the market and we have a brilliant customer base. “Our aim is to continue the re-engineering and
development of our products. We will build on this investment and strong customer relationships to build a real force in the sector. “Simon’s return to Comtec creates a real
powerhouse that is sure to lead to interesting developments.”
Simon Powell (left) and Mike Russell
9 October 2014 —
travelweekly.co.uk • 85
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