Skyscanner Limited v Competition and Markets Authority

Skyscanner, a meta-search site, appealed under s. 47(1)(c) of the Competition Act 1998 against the OFT’s decision to accept commitments from relevant parties to remove certain discounting restrictions agreed between a hotel group and online travel agencies in relation to online hotel room booking, and on that basis to close its investigation into those restrictions. The CAT allowed Skyscanner’s appeal on the basis that the OFT had failed to take into account concerns raised by Skyscanner and others in consultation, and had acted unreasonably in coming to a decision that ignored those concerns.

Jessica Boyd acted for Intercontinental Hotel Group, led by Tim Ward of Monckton Chambers.