The United States Department of Transportation has fined Amadeus for violations of its rules on the disclosure of code share information in web booking sites. The $95,000 cost of the fine is a pin prick to Amadeus, which had revenues last year of almost €1.4Bn in the first half of 2011, but this may be an indication that the DOT is flexing its muscles in its role of regulating online airline sales. Amadeus is not accused of improper actions but of failing to ensure that its customers used its tools in compliance with regulations.

The launch of Google's flight search tool a couple of days ago may have the DOT regulators on high alert given that the search engine giant has a much wider reach than a handful of small and medium sized travel agents.