Search giants, Skyscanner and Yahoo! JAPAN, have teamed up to establish a joint venture – Skyscanner Japan – that will widen travellers’ access to and ability to compare millions of flight options, for travel both in Japan and internationally.
Skyscanner Japan brings together Skyscanner’s leading flight search capabilities with Yahoo! JAPAN’s position as one of the largest digital media sites and search engines in Japan, serving on average more than 60 billion page views a month.
Under the terms of the joint venture, Skyscanner will share its API with Yahoo! JAPAN and power its flight search results.
The global travel search company said it would benefit from Yahoo! JAPAN’s large audience and its wealth of experience in the Japanese market. Last year visitors to Skyscanner in Japan grew by 40%, and it expected to see further growth with this new partnership.
Skyscanner Japan will run autonomously, and will set up an office in Tokyo and hire a CEO.
The joint venture is supported by senior representatives from both Skyscanner and Yahoo! JAPAN board in a technical and advisory capacity. Staff from both companies will also be seconded to work for Skyscanner Japan in its initial stages.
Gareth Williams: Travellers will enjoy more benefit from the new joint venture.
Gareth Williams, co-founder and CEO of Skyscanner said the establishment of the joint venture was “great news” for travel both in Japan and worldwide.
“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. Skyscanner offers the most comprehensive range of travel options to travellers globally, and we strongly believe in making our sites as locally relevant as possible. Our joint venture with Yahoo! JAPAN can only broaden and deepen the benefits we can bring to the consumers we serve.”
Gen Miyazawa, head of media company at Yahoo Japan Corporation added the partnership would enable the company to meet the demand of an increasing number of inbound travellers to Japan.
“Yahoo! JAPAN, as a problem-solving engine, will enhance the travel search experience for Japanese consumers through its search service, powered by Skyscanner.”
Japan is the third largest travel market in the world with 2015 bookings estimated to rise to US$71 billion. The establishment of Skyscanner Japan provides both partners in the joint venture an opportunity to accelerate their growth in this market.
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