American Airlines has filed a revised complaint against Sabre accusing the GDS of encouraging a “secret and collusive boycott” of its flights.
The airline claimed the GDS, which it formerly owned, had used a boycott as well as anti-competitive contracts and punitive actions to discourage travel agents and corporates from booking flights through the GDS’s systems.
Sabre has denied the allegations.
A spokesman for American said: “Sabre’s motive for its orchestrated attacks is clear.
“Sabre intends to coerce American into abandoning its effort to modernize and streamline the costly legacy system for distributing American’s travel data.”
Nancy St. Pierre, a spokeswoman for Sabre, said: “Sabre denies the allegations and this is yet another example of American Airlines distorting the facts and trying to use the courts to negotiate a new contract.
“We remain willing and committed to negotiating a new distribution agreement that meets the needs of all constituents whenever the airline is ready.”
In the long running dispute over distribution, America has accused Sabre of breaking anti-trust laws and interfering and damaging its business.
American first filed a complaint against Sabre in the state court in Fort Worth, Texas in January.
Both sides said late last month they would to continue their temporary agreement giving agents and corporate access to the airline’s content on the global GDS.
AA said the agreement would run until 14 days after its anti-trust claim against the GDS is resolved in court sometime next year.
Derek DeCross, the airline’s vp global sales, told agents in a letter this week that so far no court date had been set for the hearing and that “legal proceedings could last well into 2012.”
He told agents that the agreement “ensures regular, uninterrupted access to our content through the Sabre GDS.”