Airbnb reveals plan to break into transport and build “end-to-end travel platform”

Airbnb is breaking into the travel market, hiring the founding head of Virgin America with a wide brief to expand the $43.7 billion online powerhouse, according to the following report by nzherald.co.nz The reports notes that the home sharing site has moved into booking local experiences and announced it would build an “end-to-end travel platform” by establishing partnerships with transport firms. The San Francisco company has appointed global aviation pioneer Fred Reid as global head of transportation, the New Zealand Herald notes and adds that “in his role, Fred will focus on building partnerships and services that make travel seamless while delivering the kind of people-to-people hospitality Airbnb is known for,” according to the platform. Airbnb has few details yet on what form the travel arm will have while the company’s co-founder Brian Chesky said it hadn’t settled on exactly what the partnerships would be. He’s certain on what he doesn’t want though: “I’m not interested in building our own airline or creating just another place on the internet where you can buy a plane ticket,” he said. According to Chesky: "There was a time when getting on a plane was a magical trip of its own, but over the years, how you get to where you're going has become an experience we endure, not enjoy. We believe that needs to change." Before creating Virgin America, Reid was at American Airlines for five years, Lufthansa for seven as its president and ending up at Delta for five years as president and chief operating officer until 2004.  Airbnb also pointed out that its global community and brand enables it to create opportunities for partners in the travel sector by offering them access to the Airbnb platform. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report