Travel News

Enterprise Abandons Orbitz: Will Car-Rental Companies Join Airlines In Dumping Online Middleman?

Adriana Padilla

Enterprise Rent-a-car Logo - Enterprise Dumps Orbitz As Online Travel Providers Feel The SqueezeOnline travel providers are already in a very public tussle with airlines, but now car-rental companies are joining the fray by pulling their listings from some Web-based travel providers.

On Wednesday, Enterprise Holdings pulled its rental listings from Orbitz worldwide, citing the Web site’s “unacceptably high” commission rates as the reason behind the move.

According to Enterprise, the commission rates forced prices up, hurting consumers and making renting a car less affordable.

Enterprise, the world’s largest auto-rental company, operates several brands including Alamo Rent A Car, National Car Rental, and Enterprise Rent-A-Car brands.

The company will pull all its rental brands from Orbitz.com and CheapTickets.com on Friday.

Orbitz has listed Alamo and National brands since 2001, but was unable to reach an agreement with Enterprise after their contract expired.

Orbitz is the second-largest U.S. online travel agent and will continue to feature car rental listing from other companies like Hertz, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Thrifty and Advantage. However, a growing number of travel suppliers are starting to rethink the commission rates paid to third parties to list their services.

Orbitz is currently in the middle of a battle between American Airlines, which dropped Orbitz last year, and travel Web site Expedia, which dropped American Airlines in solidarity. American Airlines and Orbitz are currently in talks.

By Adriana Padilla for PeterGreenberg.com.

Related Links: Wall Street Journal, Reuters

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