American Airlines filed a lawsuit against Travelport and online agency Orbitz in April, over "anti-competitive business practices". AA said it requires "monetary damages" as compensation for the "harmful actions" of Orbitz and its largest investor, Travelport.
As Buying Business Travel went to press, the move was the latest development in an ongoing disagreement between the two companies over how AA distributes its fares and schedules. American Airlines has set up its Direct Connect model, encouraging clients to buy directly from the airline's own website rather than through the GDS. Travelport, which owns the Galileo and Worldspan GDSs, is already in the process of suing AA for breach of contract after the carrier removed its fares from Orbitz, which no longer sells any AA tickets.
AA's lawsuit states that Travelport has engaged in anti-competitive conduct "to protect its market position from new competition by alternative technologies that are both less expensive and more capable". The suit, filed in Fort Worth, Texas, also claims that Travelport and Orbitz have suppressed innovation that would be beneficial to airline passengers.
Travelport has dismissed AA's allegations as "ludicrous and without merit" and said that the complaint contains "significant factual inaccuracies". The travel technology firm issued a statement saying: "In unsuccessful negotiations and now in litigation, AA seeks to limit consumer choice in shopping for fares and to limit consumer access to other relevant data. Travelport believes that AA's plans to force a more restrictive distribution model would result in inefficiencies and considerable added costs ultimately to be paid by consumers."