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{{short description|Travel fare metasearch engine}}
{{Orphan|date=July 2006}}
{{Infobox website
{{Unreferenced|date=August 2007}}
| name = Cheapflights
Cheapflights Ltd. is a private international online media ([[dotcom]]) company based in [[London]] and [[Boston]] that operates a [[travel website]]. As a neutral site Cheapflights does not sell flights but publishes deals online from hundreds of [[airlines]], [[low cost airlines]] and travel operators that fly out of the [[US]], the [[UK]] and [[Canada]]. Each country has a dedicated [[website]] to help consumers find flight deals and flying information.
| logo = Cheapflights logo.svg
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| language = English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Russian, Dutch, Czech, Finnish, Polish, Romanian, Ukrainian and Chinese
| founded = {{Start date and age|1996}}<BR>U.S. company: {{Start date and age|2003|03|21}}
| location = [[London, United Kingdom]]
| owner =
| founder = John Hatt<BR>David Soskin
| key_people = {{ubl|[[Hugo Burge]]<br>([[Chief executive officer]])}}
| industry = [[Travel]]
| parent = [[Booking Holdings]]
| website = {{URL|https://www.cheapflights.com/}}<BR>{{URL|https://www.cheapflights.co.uk/}}<BR>{{URL|https://www.in.cheapflights.com/}}
}}
'''Cheapflights''' is a travel fare [[metasearch engine]]. The website is part of the [[Kayak.com]] subsidiary of [[Booking Holdings]].


Its websites publish flight prices, and compare prices from suppliers, including major airlines, through tiny travel agents.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.incomediary.com/david-soskin-interview-serial-entrepreneur-and-investor | title=David Soskin Interview – Serial Entrepreneur and Investor| first=Michael | last=Dunlop | work=Income Diary}}</ref>
Founded by travel journalist John Hatt, Cheapflights pioneered the travel [[Search Engine]] (TSE) concept in 1996. Following a [[management buy-in]] in early [[2000]] by [[entrepreneurs]] David Soskin and [[Hugo Burge]] , Cheapflights introduced the [[pay-per-click]] (PPC) [[online advertising]] remuneration model, the first [[vertical search]] travel price comparison site to do so. The then pioneering concept provides airlines and other travel operators with free listings for their flights deals. Advertisers such as [[BA]] and [[Expedia]] then only pay for the high quality leads that click through to their sites or telephone numbers.


Agents advertise on the Cheapflights websites and are charged on a [[pay-per-click]] basis for users who link through to their websites.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/08/28/travel/finding-airfare-gold-in-the-internet-maze.html | title=Finding Air-Fare Gold in the Internet Maze | first=Bob | last=Tedeschi | work=[[The New York Times]] | date=28 August 2005 | url-access=subscription}}</ref>
Apart from daily publishing over a million flights deals for comparison by consumers each day, Cheapflights also includes additional travel information for consumers and news on low cost and major airlines on its websites through a news [[blog]] on each side of the Atlantic. It also has free weekly [[newsletters]] for air-travellers in the [[US]] and [[UK]], which now have more than 4 million opt-in subscribers.
Cheapflights has an investment in Dohop Ltd. a global travel technology company that operates a flight search and connection engine online which compliments Cheapflights' online services. This enables travellers to plan precise flight itineraries from anywhere to anywhere in the World.


==External links==
==History==
Cheapflights was founded in 1996 by John Hatt.<ref name=controls>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2785755/Cheapflights-co-founder-hands-over-controls.html | title=Cheapflights co-founder hands over controls | first1=Mark | last1=Kleinman | first2=Dominic | last2=White | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | date=9 March 2008}}</ref> That year, its first website, www.cheapflights.co.uk, launched.<ref name=newsite>{{cite press release | url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090415006145/en/Cheapflights-Launches-New-Website-Australia-New-Zealand | title=Cheapflights Launches New Website for Australia and New Zealand cheapflights.com.au | publisher=[[Business Wire]] | date=April 15, 2009}}</ref> In 2000, ex-[[ABN Amro]] banker David Soskin and [[Hugo Burge]] led a buyout of the website from its founder.<ref name=controls/><ref name=everything>{{cite news | url=http://www.travolution.com/articles/5074/everything-to-play-for-hugo-burge-on-cheapflights-present-and-future | title=‘Everything to play for’: Hugo Burge on Cheapflights’ present and future | first=Lee | last=Hayhurst | work=[[Travolution]] | date=10 October 2011}}</ref><ref name=mt>{{cite news | url=https://www.managementtoday.co.uk/cheapflights-owner-flies-150m-sale/article/1304208 | title=Cheapflights' owner flies in a £150m sale | first=Rachel | last=Savage | work=[[Haymarket Media Group]] | date=18 July 2014}}</ref> The website was the first in the UK to launch the [[pay-per-click]] [[online advertising]] remuneration model.<ref name=newsite/>
*[http://www.cheapflights.co.uk Cheapflights UK]
*[http://www.cheapflights.com Cheapflights US]


In May 2003, the US website, www.cheapflights.com, was launched.<ref name=newsite/> In 2006, the website handled £1 billion in annual travel sales.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2006/oct/30/citynews.newmedia | title=Diller plans to buy up British travel websites | first=Jane | last=Martinson | publisher=[[The Guardian]] | date=30 October 2006}}</ref> In April 2007, the Canadian website, www.cheapflights.ca, was launched.<ref name=newsite/> In October 2008, the first non-English website, www.cheapflug.de, was launched.<ref name=newsite/> Co-founder David Soskin resigned as chief executive to become vice-chairman that same year.<ref name=controls/> In 2009, the [[Australia]] / [[New Zealand]] website was launched.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/BU0904/S00274/cheapflights-launches-australianz-website.htm | title=Cheapflights Launches Australia/NZ Website | publisher=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop]] | date=15 April 2009}}</ref>
⚫
[[Category:Travel websites]]

In January 2011, the company launched mobile websites.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/Cheapflights-gets-inspirational-and-mobile | title=Cheapflights gets inspirational and mobile | first=Dennis | last=Schaal | work=Phocuswire | date=January 14, 2011}}</ref> In March 2011, the company acquired [[momondo]], a rival online travel agency.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/03/29/cheapflights-invests-in-travel-meta-search-site-momondo-2/ | title=Cheapflights invests in travel meta-search site Momondo | first=Robin | last=Wauters | work=[[TechCrunch]] | date=29 March 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/Momondo-name-to-carry-Cheapflights-into-non-English-speaking-territories | title=Momondo name to carry Cheapflights into non-English speaking territories | first=Linda | last=Fox | work=Phocuswire | date=12 November 2012}}</ref> The two websites and brands were kept independent of each other.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://skift.com/2014/05/14/ceo-interview-cheapflights-and-momondo-attempt-a-dual-brand-strategy/ | title=CEO Interview: Cheapflights and Momondo Attempt a Dual-Brand Strategy | first=Dennis | last=Schaal | work=[[Skift]] | date=14 May 2014}}</ref> It also discontinued Zugu.<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/Cheapflights-invests-in-Momondo-axes-Zugu | title=Cheapflights invests in Momondo, axes Zugu | first=Kevin | last=May | work=Phocuswire | date=March 29, 2011}}</ref> In October 2014, Great Hill Partners, a [[private-equity firm]], invested £80m for a majority stake in the company that owned [https://www.airscanner.io Cheapflights] and [https://thodiamedia.com/momondo-review/ momondo], valuing it at £132 million.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.greathillpartners.com/great-hill-partners-acquires-majority-stake-momondo/ | title=Great Hill Partners Acquires a Majority Stake in Momondo | publisher=Great Hill Partners | date=17 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/leisure/11168861/Cheapflights-owner-receives-80m-cash-boost-from-Boston-based-investor.html | title=Cheapflights owner receives £80m cash boost from Boston-based investor | first=Ashley | last=Armstrong | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | date=17 October 2014}}</ref> In February 2015, the South African website was launched.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.traveller24.com/TravelPlanning/Cheapflights-launches-in-SA-20150224 | title=Cheapflights launches in SA | publisher=Traveller 24 | date=February 24, 2015}}</ref> In June 2015, the United Kingdom website was launched as a metasearch engine.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/Goodbye-deals-Cheapflights-switches-to-metasearch-after-19-years | title=Goodbye, deals - Cheapflights switches to metasearch after 19 years | first=Kevin | last=May | work=Phocuswire | date=24 June 2015}}</ref> In June 2016, Cheapflights added search capability within [[Facebook Messenger]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.phocuswire.com/Cheapflights-puts-flight-and-hotel-search-into-Facebook-Messenger | title=Cheapflights puts flight and hotel search into Facebook Messenger | first=Kevin | last=May | work=Phocuswire | date=June 14, 2016}}</ref> In October, Cheapflights reorganized some of its staff.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://skift.com/2016/10/14/momondo-group-makes-changes-at-cheapflights-operation/ | title=Momondo Group Makes Changes at Cheapflights Operation | first=Patrick | last=Whyte | work=[[Skift]] | date=14 October 2016}}</ref> In July 2017, Cheapflights and momondo were acquired by [[Booking Holdings]] for $550 million.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-priceline-group-completes-the-acquisition-of-momondo-group-300492526.html | title=The Priceline Group Completes the Acquisition of Momondo Group | publisher=[[PR Newswire]] | date=24 July 2017}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Booking Holdings}}
{{Travel ticket search engines}}

[[Category:Booking Holdings]]
⚫
[[Category:British travel websites]]
[[Category:British companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Hospitality companies established in 1996]]
[[Category:Internet properties established in 1996]]
[[Category:2017 mergers and acquisitions]]
[[Category:Travel ticket search engines]]
[[Category:Companies based in London]]

Latest revision as of 18:14, 19 August 2024

Cheapflights
Type of site
Subsidiary
Available inEnglish, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Turkish, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Russian, Dutch, Czech, Finnish, Polish, Romanian, Ukrainian and Chinese
Founded1996; 28 years ago (1996)
U.S. company: March 21, 2003; 21 years ago (2003-03-21)
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Founder(s)John Hatt
David Soskin
Key people
IndustryTravel
ParentBooking Holdings
URLwww.cheapflights.com
www.cheapflights.co.uk
www.in.cheapflights.com

Cheapflights is a travel fare metasearch engine. The website is part of the Kayak.com subsidiary of Booking Holdings.

Its websites publish flight prices, and compare prices from suppliers, including major airlines, through tiny travel agents.[1]

Agents advertise on the Cheapflights websites and are charged on a pay-per-click basis for users who link through to their websites.[2]

History

[edit]

Cheapflights was founded in 1996 by John Hatt.[3] That year, its first website, www.cheapflights.co.uk, launched.[4] In 2000, ex-ABN Amro banker David Soskin and Hugo Burge led a buyout of the website from its founder.[3][5][6] The website was the first in the UK to launch the pay-per-click online advertising remuneration model.[4]

In May 2003, the US website, www.cheapflights.com, was launched.[4] In 2006, the website handled £1 billion in annual travel sales.[7] In April 2007, the Canadian website, www.cheapflights.ca, was launched.[4] In October 2008, the first non-English website, www.cheapflug.de, was launched.[4] Co-founder David Soskin resigned as chief executive to become vice-chairman that same year.[3] In 2009, the Australia / New Zealand website was launched.[8]

In January 2011, the company launched mobile websites.[9] In March 2011, the company acquired momondo, a rival online travel agency.[10][11] The two websites and brands were kept independent of each other.[12] It also discontinued Zugu.[13] In October 2014, Great Hill Partners, a private-equity firm, invested £80m for a majority stake in the company that owned Cheapflights and momondo, valuing it at £132 million.[14][15] In February 2015, the South African website was launched.[16] In June 2015, the United Kingdom website was launched as a metasearch engine.[17] In June 2016, Cheapflights added search capability within Facebook Messenger.[18] In October, Cheapflights reorganized some of its staff.[19] In July 2017, Cheapflights and momondo were acquired by Booking Holdings for $550 million.[20]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dunlop, Michael. "David Soskin Interview – Serial Entrepreneur and Investor". Income Diary.
  2. ^ Tedeschi, Bob (28 August 2005). "Finding Air-Fare Gold in the Internet Maze". The New York Times.
  3. ^ a b c Kleinman, Mark; White, Dominic (9 March 2008). "Cheapflights co-founder hands over controls". The Daily Telegraph.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Cheapflights Launches New Website for Australia and New Zealand cheapflights.com.au" (Press release). Business Wire. April 15, 2009.
  5. ^ Hayhurst, Lee (10 October 2011). "'Everything to play for': Hugo Burge on Cheapflights' present and future". Travolution.
  6. ^ Savage, Rachel (18 July 2014). "Cheapflights' owner flies in a £150m sale". Haymarket Media Group.
  7. ^ Martinson, Jane (30 October 2006). "Diller plans to buy up British travel websites". The Guardian.
  8. ^ "Cheapflights Launches Australia/NZ Website" (Press release). Scoop. 15 April 2009.
  9. ^ Schaal, Dennis (January 14, 2011). "Cheapflights gets inspirational and mobile". Phocuswire.
  10. ^ Wauters, Robin (29 March 2011). "Cheapflights invests in travel meta-search site Momondo". TechCrunch.
  11. ^ Fox, Linda (12 November 2012). "Momondo name to carry Cheapflights into non-English speaking territories". Phocuswire.
  12. ^ Schaal, Dennis (14 May 2014). "CEO Interview: Cheapflights and Momondo Attempt a Dual-Brand Strategy". Skift.
  13. ^ May, Kevin (March 29, 2011). "Cheapflights invests in Momondo, axes Zugu". Phocuswire.
  14. ^ "Great Hill Partners Acquires a Majority Stake in Momondo" (Press release). Great Hill Partners. 17 October 2014.
  15. ^ Armstrong, Ashley (17 October 2014). "Cheapflights owner receives £80m cash boost from Boston-based investor". The Daily Telegraph.
  16. ^ "Cheapflights launches in SA". Traveller 24. February 24, 2015.
  17. ^ May, Kevin (24 June 2015). "Goodbye, deals - Cheapflights switches to metasearch after 19 years". Phocuswire.
  18. ^ May, Kevin (June 14, 2016). "Cheapflights puts flight and hotel search into Facebook Messenger". Phocuswire.
  19. ^ Whyte, Patrick (14 October 2016). "Momondo Group Makes Changes at Cheapflights Operation". Skift.
  20. ^ "The Priceline Group Completes the Acquisition of Momondo Group" (Press release). PR Newswire. 24 July 2017.
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