PHOENIX -- Speaking at the Citigroup 16th Annual Global Entertainment, Media and Telecommunications Conference, Expedia Inc. Chairman Barry Diller said that an agreement that would have Sabre processing some bookings for Expedia.com will “probably be ready by the summer,” according to Travel Weekly.

The two companies wrote an agreement about 20 months ago that would end Worldspan’s status as the sole GDS provider to Expedia.com. Speaking at the conference, Diller said that technology issues have been delaying the implementation.

Diller said that the decision to funnel some bookings to Sabre was driven by the need to diversify, noting that an unidentified third GDS vendor will handle some of Expedia.com’s international bookings, as well.

Depending on their scope, these developments could have a major adverse impact on Worldspan, which had monopolized Expedia.com’s GDS bookings.