American Express Co and Microsoft Corp plan to create an on-line travel service for companies to enable business travelers to make their own reservations via personal computer. US companies spend about $145bn a year on travel-related expenses, and the new joint service would enable them to manage air, car and hotel reservations more efficiently. Financial terms of the pact were not disclosed. Under the agreement, New York based American Express will have a two-year exclusive license to the service. Introduction is expected in the first half of 1997. The service could be used through the Internet or corporate intranets, the pair said. It will face competition from AMR Corp’s Sabre Group business travel service aimed at corporate travel managers, with features similar to American Express-Microsoft product.
