AI augments metasearch for next-generation travel planning

Skyscanner bets on agent-to-agent interactions to enhance contextual trip search, not replace specialist platforms

Skyscanner CEO Bryan Batista argues that artificial intelligence will strengthen metasearch rather than render it obsolete. Batista believes the future of travel planning lies in contextual, agent-to-agent interactions where personal AI assistants exchange preferences directly with Skyscanner’s systems to deliver highly specific results.

Rather than replacing specialist travel platforms, AI is expected to improve handovers, deepen personalization, and enable new multimodal and package comparison tools. Skyscanner’s neutral position, long-standing global dataset, and traveller-first culture position it to benefit from this new architecture.

Key takeaways

• AI strengthens metasearch: Batista sees AI as augmenting rather than disintermediating specialist travel platforms, enabling smoother data exchanges and contextual search.
• Agent-to-agent model: Personal AI assistants will communicate directly with Skyscanner’s agent, sharing traveller preferences and enabling hyper-precise trip recommendations without manual filtering.
• Contextual trip exploration: Skyscanner is developing natural-language search, real-time refinements, visual suggestions, and multi-option trip boards powered by AI to support undecided travellers.
• Transparent packages comparison: The company is scaling a comparison layer for flight-and-hotel bundles to help travellers identify meaningful savings hidden in opaque or OTA-specific package pricing.
• Multimodal expansion: Rail, bus, and air combinations increase traveller confidence, improve redirect performance, and unlock destinations without major airports.
• Global growth markets: India, the Middle East, South Korea, and North America are key focus regions, supported by local partnerships, brand ambassadors, platform localization, and above-the-line campaigns.
• Traveller-first culture: Skyscanner operates as a neutral, customer-centric platform with strong direct traffic and limited reliance on paid media, prioritizing user value over transactional shortcuts.
• Supportive parent company: Trip.com Group allows Skyscanner to maintain neutrality, ensuring equal access for all partners and reinforcing the integrity of metasearch.

Get the full story at WiT

Enjoying this analysis? Hospitality.today delivers daily insights on hotel distribution, AI trends, and travel commerce — straight to your inbox. Subscribe for free at Hospitality.today →