Amadeus Bets on Aggregators as AI Booking Grows
The travel technology firm said AI platforms will rely on intermediaries such as Duffel rather than building their own booking systems.
Updated on Nov. 8, 2026 in Travel — General
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Amadeus used its third-quarter 2026 earnings call on November 6 to say AI travel platforms will connect through aggregators rather than build booking systems themselves. Its CFO said a Meta Muse partnership run through Duffel reinforces that position.
Why it matters
As AI assistants move into travel search and purchase, control over booking infrastructure and direct platform relationships is becoming a competitive contest. Amadeus's bookings fell 2.8% in the first nine months of 2026, which the company attributed largely to Middle East disruption.
Amadeus reported bookings down 2.8% and revenue per booking up 5% for the first nine months of 2026, with group revenue of €5.08 billion, up 5.2% at constant currency. CEO Luis Maroto cited roughly 3 billion daily searches, but the filing does not specify how many of those searches involve AI platforms.
The players
Amadeus
Amadeus is a Madrid-based travel technology company that operates global distribution systems used by airlines, hotels and travel agencies.
Duffel
Duffel is a travel API company that provides airline inventory to developers and now holds the direct platform relationship with Meta Muse.
Luis Maroto
Luis Maroto is the chief executive of Amadeus, who cited roughly 3 billion daily searches on the earnings call.
Carol Borg
Carol Borg is the chief financial officer of Amadeus, who said the Meta Muse and Duffel partnership reinforces the company's aggregator position.
The details
Duffel's inventory combines direct airline connections, NDC content and Travelport GDS inventory, and it holds the direct relationship with Meta Muse. Selfbook powers hotel booking and payments for Perplexity, while Nuitée supplies hotel infrastructure to Grab and Revolut, and AirGateway and Kyte offer API-based airline connectivity.
Timeline
First nine months of 2026: bookings fell 2.8% while revenue per booking rose 5%.
November 6, 2026: Amadeus held its Q3 2026 earnings call.
Industry Dynamics
The Meta Muse and Duffel arrangement shows AI travel platforms routing bookings through API intermediaries rather than legacy global distribution systems. That pattern pressures incumbents like Amadeus to position themselves as aggregators within an increasingly direct AI booking chain.
Travelers using AI assistants to search and book may see results routed through intermediaries such as Duffel or Selfbook rather than the airline or hotel directly. Checking the booking confirmation for the actual provider can help clarify who handles changes and refunds.
The takeaway
AI booking assistants are increasingly depending on aggregators for inventory and payments, which can shift who controls the customer relationship. Travelers comparing options should verify the provider behind each booking before paying.
Further reading
For broader context on how booking technology is reshaping trips, explore Travel — General coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Skift.
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