THE APPROVAL: Justice Department officials are allowing Google to proceed with its $700 million purchase of airline fare tracker ITA Software.
THE PURCHASE: ITA gives Google control over the technology that powers the reservation systems of most major U.S. airlines and many popular online fare-comparison services, including Kayak, TripAdvisor and Hotwire.
THE CONDITIONS: The government imposed significant conditions on the deal to safeguard competition in the Internet travel market, including a requirement that Google license ITA’s software to other companies on fair and reasonable terms through 2016.
