Skyscanner fast-tracks mobile dev team with Distinction acquisition

Skyscanner has announced the acquisition of Budapest-based mobile app developer Distinction.

Skyscanner has announced the acquisition of Budapest-based mobile app developer  Distinction.

The deal will fast-track the growth of the Edinburgh-based meta-search site’s in-house mobile team, Skyscanner said

Distintion has a 30-strong team of mobile designers and developers and was the firm behind Skyscanner’s hotel app launched in August.

The Budapest office will become Skyscanner’s main mobile hub, where the existing team will continue to be based supported by additional roles across Skyscanner’s global offices.

Skyscanner has expanded its range of apps over the past 12 months, adding car hire and, most recently, hotels to its multi-platform flight app.

Gareth Williams, Skyscanner co-founder and chief executive, said: “The future of online travel booking is undoubtedly mobile.  More and more of travellers’ plans are made on the move and that is accelerating fast.

“The team at Distinction, led by Bálint Orosz and Akos Kapui, are some of the best app developers that I’ve ever come across.  In working closely with them on the design of our hotel app, we saw how focused they were on the user experience. 

“They have built a fantastic company with a great culture and, as part of our combined team, will focus on creating the mobile travel assistant that future travellers will need.”

The range of Skyscanner apps have been downloaded over 30 million times and are available in over 30 languages.

Orosz, co-founder and chief executive of Distinction, said: “When we founded Distinction four years ago, our goal was to create a place which inspires people to do their best.

“As we have built the team rapidly from seven to thirty people over the past 20 months, we have been committed to ensuring that we maintain an environment where every person can, and should, have impact. Knowing Skyscanner for more than three years, we see how deeply we share these values.

“This acquisition is an amazing opportunity for our whole team to use everything we have learned so far in working with global brands and to craft the future of online mobile travel as part of Skyscanner.

“Having worked closely with Skyscanner’s product teams since 2011, we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to focus our efforts within such a great organisation.”