UK-based Travel Search Engine Skyscanner Acquires Chinese Travel Price Comparison Site Youbibi

UK-based travel search service Skyscanner announced today acquisition of Youbibi, a Chinese travel price comparison site, for undisclosed terms.

Launched in 2003, Skyscanner now offers search service in more than 30 languages. It’s one of the biggest travel search engines in Europe, with 25 million monthly unique visitors and 30 million mobile app installs, according to the company.

Skyscanner entered China market in 2012 with a Chinese-language site called Tianxun. The company saw 700% growth in traffic in 2013.

The company is working with local companies such as outbound travel service provider Qyer and Qihoo, the largest web browser provider in China and one of the largest app distributors.

Youbibi was founded in 2010 in Shenzhen, offering price comparison in flight, hotel, attraction tickets and organized tours. It’s available on both the Web and mobile, Android and iOS. The team have about 20 members.

China’s travel search market is dominated by Qunar, whose majority shareholder is China’s largest search engine Baidu. Aside from search, Qunar has also developed a system for placing orders and payments so that users don’t need to visit third-party travel agencies.