Airbnb, not content to merely show off other people's pool houses, is now aiming toward the air travel market.
According to Bloomberg, the home-sharing service is looking to enter the OTA realm, directly competing with behemoths like Priceline Group Inc. and Expedia Inc.
However, the report is careful to point out nothing is yet guaranteed in what is being called Flights, but cites anonymous personnel who seem to be in close proximity to Flights' current build and notes a November presentation by Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky which showed off a new iteration of the website that contained an airplane icon on the page.
As Bloomberg explains on its sources' information: "This is where Airbnb intends to provide suggestions for the best airfare options based on price, travel time and expected weather conditions, said the people familiar with the plans."
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For the moment, there has been no comment from Airbnb's spokesperson, curtailing optimism that a flight function might pop up on Airbnb's website in the immediate future.
As to what Flights would look like for consumers, little is known at the moment. Airbnb might acquire an OTA or simply work closely with a data provider that could bring a wealth of fare information to consumers in an instant.
The general expansion is par for the course, as Airbnb recently launched its Trips product. TravelPulse's Patrick Clarke spelled out the new service that allows guests to go beyond their patrons' not-so-humble abode both to reserve tours and to experience other adventures in a given area.
Flights could be that next logical step in creating a full-service brand that takes a traveler from the comfort of their couch to someone else's living room and back again.
Sadly, this probably doesn't mean that you will soon be able to rent out that entire Boeing 747 for your next trip to Miami, but we can dream.
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