Sabre today said it filed an antitrust suit against American
Airlines and asked for "an injunction preventing AA from continuing to
force travel agents and other customers to take the airline's Direct Connect
product."
The two companies until today observed a legal ceasefire in
place since January when a Texas court issued an order forcing Sabre Travel
Network to temporarily cease certain retaliatory actions.
According to a Sabre statement, AA "is engaging in
anticompetitive conduct to maintain its monopoly position over air
transportation out of its hubs and between many U.S. and Caribbean cities, and
to gain a monopoly position in air booking services for travel between those
cities."
Sabre also claimed AA is "unlawfully forcing travel
agencies, travel management companies and corporations to take its Direct
Connect product in order to access the airline's full fare information"
and "attempting to eliminate the GDSs."
According to a statement attributed to Sabre Travel Network
senior vice president Chris Kroeger, "Our preference was to extend the
current legal 'stand down.' However it is apparent based on AA's actions that
Sabre has no choice but to pursue legal remedies. In parallel, we will continue
to pursue through negotiations a distribution agreement with AA that meets the
needs of all constituents."