American Airlines files antitrust lawsuit against Travelport and Orbitz

American Airlines has (13-Apr-2011) filed a civil antitrust lawsuit against Travelport and Orbitz Worldwide to stop what American calls "exclusionary and anti-competitive" business practices of the defendants and recover monetary damages that American has incurred as a result of these actions. The lawsuit states that Travelport, which controls the distribution of fares and other content to a large number of travel agencies and their corporate customers, has engaged in anti-competitive conduct to protect its market position from new competition by alternative technologies. Orbitz issued the following statement in response to the lawsuit:

Orbitz: "American Airlines' baseless claims against Orbitz are the latest in a series of tactics to force Orbitz to adopt a carrier ticket distribution model that limits consumer choice and inhibits competition." Source: Orbitz Press Release, 13-Apr-2011.

Travelport intends to vigorously defend the lawsuit. [more - Travelport] [more - American Airlines] [more - Orbitz]