American Air sues Orbitz, citing 'monopoly power'

American Airlines Inc., the third- biggest U.S. carrier, sued Travelport LP and Orbitz Worldwide Inc. to stop what it called their anti-competitive conduct.

 “Travelport effectively controls the distribution of airline tickets to a large number of business travelers,” American Airlines said in a complaint filed with the federal court in Fort Worth, Texas yesterday. “Travelport and Orbitz have entered into agreements with one another and with others to exclude competition and maintain Travelport's monopoly power.”

 The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline wants to provide fare and flight data directly to online travel agents like Orbitz instead of paying fees to go through global distribution systems such as Travelport. American spent more than $300 million on such fees in 2010.

As reported in the:  www.dailyherald.com.