Search giants join forces in world’s third largest travel market
Skyscanner and Yahoo! JAPAN announced a joint venture aiming to “broaden travellers’ access to and ability to compare millions of flight options”, for travel both in Japan and internationally.
Japan is the third largest travel market in the world with 2015 bookings estimated to rise to $71 billion. The establishment of Skyscanner Japan provides both partners in the joint venture an opportunity to accelerate their growth in this important market and offers millions of consumers comprehensive travel options for free.
Under the terms of the joint venture, Skyscanner will share its API with Yahoo! JAPAN and power its flight search results. Skyscanner will benefit from Yahoo! JAPAN’s large and loyal audience, and its wealth of experience in the Japanese market. Last year, visitors to Skyscanner in Japan grew by 40 per cent, and this relationship is expected to accelerate further growth.
Gen Miyazawa, Head of Media Company at Yahoo Japan Corporation said: “This joint venture gives us a thrilling opportunity to launch a travel service in Japan, together with Skyscanner, a leading global travel search company. Yahoo! JAPAN, as a problem-solving engine, will enhance the travel search experience for Japanese consumers through its search service, powered by Skyscanner. What’s more, we hope to meet the demand of an increasing number of inbound travellers to Japan, and improve their satisfaction, through the widely recognised Skyscanner service.”
Gareth Williams, co-founder and CEO of Skyscanner said: “Skyscanner Japan is a start-up backed by a leading global travel search engine and the biggest search engine in the world’s third biggest travel market. This is great news for travel in Japan and worldwide.”
Skyscanner Japan will run autonomously, supported in a technical and advisory capacity by senior representatives from both Skyscanner and Yahoo! JAPAN at Board level. This support will initially be bolstered by expert secondees from both companies who will work for Skyscanner Japan. Two early actions that will be required of the entity is to establish a Tokyo office and hire a CEO.
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