, according to a customer letter sent today by STN senior vice president Chris Kroeger. Citing AA's efforts to push agencies to a
direct-connect programthat bypasses global distribution systems, Kroeger wrote that "we have made changes in the Sabre system that alter the order in which some of American Airlines' flights appear in availability and shopping displays." The two parties in September 2006 announced a
five-year deal distribution deal. Kroeger told subscribers that Sabre informed AA it would eliminate "the substantial price discounts AA has enjoyed consistent with its prior long-term commitments to provide full content" and that it "provided AA notice that accelerates the termination date of our current agreement to the extent possible, culminating in early August." Sabre, Kroeger added, is "seeking a new agreement with AA that provides our customers long-term assurances of efficient comparison shopping." AA also has ongoing disputes with Expedia, which on Jan. 1 removed American Airlines' fares from its site,
Travelportand
Orbitz, for which AA rescinded ticketing authority.