UK. Manchester Airports Group (MAG), the UK’s largest airport group, has acquired online consolidator and price comparison business Looking4.com for an undisclosed sum.
Looking4.com and its team of 35 people will integrate into MAG’s Airport Services division, alongside the group’s dedicated technology division MAG-O, which aims to enhance the end-to-end airport experience for passengers.
MAG said the acquisition will enable the group to improve its ability to distribute and market its own car parking, airport lounges and fast-track products in addition to those at other airports outside of the group.
Looking4.com specialises in online airport parking price comparison and also offers deals on private car, train, bus and other types of transfers to a list of global airports.
The company has experienced rapid growth over the past few years. It has gained further international reach in countries such as Japan and Australia, following the acquisition of Melbourne-based Airport Parking Australia in 2017. Last year, almost 800,000 customers used Looking4.com and related websites to book their travel services across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Oceania and Africa.
MAG CEO Airport Services Andrew Harrison said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the Looking4.com team into the group. In looking to expand and grow our MAG-O business, we wanted to find a company that had a great network of supplier businesses, fantastic distribution channels and top-quality tech that would fit in well with what our team is already working on.
“I’m very pleased to say that Looking4.com ticked all those boxes and they are also a like-minded set of people, with a commercial ethos and start up mentality – they’ll fit perfectly into MAG.”
Looking4.com Managing Director Martin Mansell commented: “Having spent the last ten years developing our software platform and network of partners, we’re delighted that our business has been acquired by MAG and will have the opportunity to take both MAG and Looking4.com to the next level in this digital evolution. We’re looking forward to working together, integrating the businesses and accelerating the growth even more.”
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