MEPs believe this will mean more competition and therefore lower distribution costs, but they also want measures to ensure consumers get a fair deal - and can be presented with environment-friendlier travel options. The main aim of the Commission proposal is that airlines and CRSs should be able to negotiate freely the conditions of the distribution of air services. Systems should compete on price and service quality. Under the revision, the House believes, CRSs will have to compete more aggressively with each other for air carrier participation on the basis of lower booking fees and better service quality.
The only exception to this new freedom to negotiate terms of business concerns carriers who are the parent of a CRS – they must provide all the same information to other CRS as they do to their own CRS.
Where prices are shown in the principal display, and/or where a rank- ing based on prices is chosen, MEPs say that prices must be inclusive of the fares and of all applicable taxes, charges, surcharges and fees to be paid to the air carrier or rail-transport operator, and which are unavoidable and foreseeable at the time when shown on the display.
