Google complies with EU rules for travel searches, says the new results stink
Google has begun rolling out changes to its European travel search results to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act, but says the revised results are noticeably worse for users. The move follows a €460 million ($543 million) fine imposed by the European Commission in July for favouring Google's own services in travel and shopping searches, and reflects the bloc's ongoing effort to curb what it views as anticompetitive behaviour by dominant tech platforms.
Under the new format, European users searching for hotels or flights will lose instant pricing and availability features. Instead, results will show a link to a specialist search engine at the top, followed by two similar links with less detail, and then a carousel of options ranked purely by Google's algorithm rather than commercial deals. Google has until 23 September to fully comply, after which it risks fines of up to 5% of global revenue; the changes apply only in the EU, and Google claims its own testing shows users are less satisfied and searching repeatedly under the new system, while businesses fear a repeat of the 30% drop in direct booking traffic seen after earlier EU-driven changes in 2024.
In short
- Google alters EU travel search results to meet Digital Markets Act rules
- Instant pricing and availability features are being removed for EU users
- Google warns of worse results; must fully comply by 23 September
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The EU’s rules aim to stop a dominant search platform from steering customers towards its own travel services at the expense of competitors. Giving specialist search engines more visible placement and reducing the role of commercial deals could make it easier for users and businesses to reach alternatives, supporting fairer competition over time.
The case against
Google’s concern is that removing integrated prices and availability makes travel searches less useful, forcing people to follow links and repeat searches to compare options. If the revised layout also reduces direct bookings for travel businesses, the rules could impose real costs on users and firms without ensuring that the alternatives are better.
Explained simply
The EU’s Digital Markets Act sets rules for large online platforms, including how they present their own services alongside competitors. The European Commission says Google gave its own travel and shopping services an unfair advantage in search results, and fined the company €460 million in July.
Google Search can show travel prices and availability directly, as well as links to booking sites. The EU’s rules are intended to give competing services a fair chance to reach customers, while Google says the changes make it harder for people to compare travel options and for businesses to attract bookings.
The dispute matters because search results can influence where people book flights and hotels, and how much traffic businesses receive. The changes apply to users in the EU, where regulators can impose further penalties if Google does not meet the rules.