Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has acquired Leeds-based Looking4.com — the online consolidator and price comparison business — for an undisclosed sum.
Looking4.com specialises in online airport parking price comparison and also offers deals on private car, train, bus and other types of transfers to a list of global airports.
Looking4.com and its team of 35 people will become part of MAG’s Airport Services division alongside the group’s dedicated technology division MAG-O.
MAG owns and operates Manchester, London Stansted and East Midlands airports and is privately managed on behalf of its shareholders — IFM Investors (35.5%), Manchester City Council (35.5%) and nine other Greater Manchester councils (29%).
“In looking to expand and grow our MAG-O business, we wanted to find a company that had a great network of supplier businesses, fantastic distribution channels and top quality tech that would fit in well with what our team is already working on,” said Andrew Harrison, CEO, Airport Services, MAG.
“I’m very pleased to say that Looking4.com ticked all those boxes and they are also a like-minded set of people, with a commercial ethos and start up mentality – they’ll fit perfectly into MAG.”
Last year, almost 800,000 customers used Looking4.com and related websites to book their travel services across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Oceania & Africa.
Martin Mansell, MD of Looking4.com, said: “Having spent the last 10 years developing our software platform and network of partners, we’re delighted that our business has been acquired by MAG and will have the opportunity to take both MAG and Looking4.com to the next level in this digital evolution.
“We’re looking forward to working together, integrating the businesses and accelerating the growth even more.”