Delays leave online travel site stranded

After six months of delays, flight reservations Web site Deckchair.com will finally go live today.

But many observers think the service, founded by rock-star turned media mogul Bob Geldof, has lost its unique selling point in the interim.

At the launch in September 1998, Geldof promised unique features such as information on flight availability, fare discounts, personalised travel arrangements and online bookings.

Deckchair.com was originally due to go online in October. The release date was then postponed to 28 November, then the end of January and finally to 14 April.

The delays were initially caused by failure to secure a leased line.

Now online booking, discounts and flight availability are standard, and new market entries like PhoneLink's Tel-Me have transformed the business model by offering free related content.
In September 1998, Geldof was sure he was stealing a march on the IT industry. He said at the launch: "It's a very simple concept that comes from me having two espressos on a windy afternoon outside the Picasso on the King's Road. It's something that should have existed, but doesn't."

Today's launch will stress the value of the discounts the site offers.