EXPEDIA and TripAdvisor have filed antitrust complaints against Google with the European Commission, joining a growing list of companies who have accused the Internet search giant of breaching European Union (EU) competition laws by rigging online search results.

Complaints by the two OTAs reportedly centred on Google Flight Search, a new web-based service launched last year (TTG Asia e-Daily, June 1, 2011) that allows users to search for and purchase airline tickets, similar to services offered by Expedia and TripAdvisor.

So far, the EU competition watchdog has received 13 separate complaints, all of which claim that Google is rigging online search results to direct users to its own services, while reducing the visibility of competing websites and services.

The Commission's initial findings will be revealed later this month, according to Joaquin Almunia, EU commissioner.