American Airlines has sued Travelport for what it calls anticompetitive behaviour.
The legal action is the latest twist in an ongoing dispute between the American Airlines the GDS. The carrier wants to by-pass the GDS and use its own technology to distribute fares to travel agents.
“Travelport, Orbitz and other industry participants have undertaken attacks against American that have been swift and punitive,” said the lawsuit, which has been filed in a US federal court in Fort Worth.
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American Airlines has accused Travelport of exerting “monopoly power” over airlines because it effectively controls access to many of the end users of American’s products and services.
American said if a GDS increases its booking fees or takes other actions against an airline, the airline has “little ability” to shift bookings to another GDS.
In a statement Travelport slammed the lawsuit as being “ludicrous and meritless”.
“Travelport believes this lawsuit is merely another attempt by AA to gain bargaining leverage through litigation.
“AA's unfortunate choice to litigate frivolous positions, rather than engage in fair and constructive negotiations, leaves Travelport with no alternative except to defend these claims vigorously and to take all appropriate legal action,” the company said.
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