Kayak CEO says metasearch distribution is disrupted and comparison increasingly complex

Kayak chief executive Peer Bueller said the distribution model that built metasearch has been disrupted, noting that building side‑by‑side flight comparison is hard and not a commodity.

He explained that effective comparison requires complex integrations with suppliers, direct database access and commercial agreements on usage, and that Kayak has spent a quarter‑century trying to perfect side‑by‑side comparison, which is becoming more difficult as airlines unbundle fares into separate attributes and airports are marketed as distinct entities.