Nine of Europe's leading airlines yesterday unveiled plans to move jointly into the online travel market with the launch of a new service, selling flights and other travel products direct to the consumer, later this year.

The travel service, Opodo, has been created as an independent business as a result of a joint venture between Aer Lingus, Air France, Alitalia, Austrian Airlines, British Airways, Finnair, Iberia, KLM and Lufthansa. The company will offer consumers a range of travel products including flights, hotel bookings, car rental and travel insurance, 24 hours a day and seven days a week.

Opodo's stated aim is to offer a comprehensive travel service for European travellers, including destination guides, interactive maps, and local independent sites serving each European market.

Opodo plans to launch initially in Germany, the UK and France, and later across Europe, between 2002 and 2003. Chief executive offer Giovanni Bisignani said, "Opodo will give consumers a wealth of local knowledge and our aim is to utilise this experience to make Opodo the number one online destination in Europe for online travel bookings. Opodo aims to be a low cost distribution channel with the objective of providing consumers with choice and low fares."