Daily Travel Intel: Kayak To Go Public, Expedia Banks on Smartphones, Air France Looks to China and Africa for Growth

Kayak Software, a Travel Company Owned by Sequoia and Accel, Files for IPO {Bloomberg}

“Kayak Software Corp., the Norwalk, Connecticut-based provider of online travel information, filed for an initial public offering worth as much as $50 million.”

Expedia Buys Mobiata, Maker of Popular iPhone Travel Apps {TechFlash}

“Ann Arbor-based Mobiata, a maker of mobile travel applications such as FlightTrack, FareCompare and HotelPal, has been sold to Expedia in a deal of undisclosed size. The acquisition will bolster Expedia’s mobile offerings at a time when more travelers are using smartphones and other portable devices to check flight times, fares and other information.”

Air France-KLM Raises Profit Forecast, Plots Asian Routes as Demand Booms {Bloomberg}

“Air France-KLM Group, Europe’s biggest airline, raised its full-year earnings target and plans to add more than a dozen new routes to tap surging demand for flights to Asia, Africa and the Middle East…The carrier will add four or five new Asian destinations by 2014, mainly in China, plus a similar number in Africa and the Middle East…”

Commercial Jets to Fly in Skies Reserved for Military {CNN}

“Aviation authorities are gearing up for a busy holiday travel season by clearing skies normally reserved for military aircraft in an effort to make room for more unfettered commercial travel.”