Google will soon be cutting off access to a feed that automates airfare data for third party search engines, such as travel sites.
The company is making an effort to notify developers about this change, while explaining exactly what this means for those who rely on Google’s flight data.
Here is a summary of what’s going on, and not all doom and gloom for travel websites.
Google is just shutting down QPX Express
As of April 10, 2018, Google is shutting down its QPX Express API service. It’s important to note this is a different service from QPX for enterprise.
QPX for enterprise is a robust airfare pricing and shopping platform that was developed by ITA Software.
Google acquired ITA software in 2010 and began offering QPX for enterprise to airlines and intermediaries to power their air travel e-commerce services.
Years later, in 2014, a stripped down version called QPX Express was introduced. QPX Express is a more basic service that lacked the advanced features of QPX for enterprise.
QPX Express was primarily designed for smaller companies and individual users, but it turned out there was not much interest in it.
As a result, Google is shutting down QPX Express. QPX for enterprise, on the other hand, is not going away.
Google states:
”Our travel partners continue to have access to data provided by QPX for enterprise as they have over the last 7 years, and will have in the future. We’re committed to collaborating with our partners to make the entire online travel journey better for travelers around the globe.”
Those who have signed up for QPX Express can continue to use it until April 10, 2018. As for what to do after April 10, Google simply recommends finding an alternate solution.
