American Airlines has severed its decade-long ties to online travel giant Orbitz, in a move that experts said could shake up the global travel industry if other airlines follow its lead. For weeks, American has been embroiled in a dispute with Chicago-based Orbitz and its corporate parent, Travelport, after announcing that it no longer would allow its flights and fares to be posted on the popular ticket-buying site.
In November, a Chicago judge issued a temporary restraining order preventing the number-three US airline from cancelling its ties to Orbitz. But on Tuesday, the court allowed the restraining order to expire, freeing American to end the relationship.
Other online travel sites are not affected by move, the company said. Orbitz said American made up about five percent, some 28.8 million dollars, of the 575.1 million dollars in net revenue it generated during the first nine months of 2010.
Orbitz was one of a handful of Internet travel sites that revolutionised how American consumers shop for flights, by consolidating airfares from several airlines all on one site, allowing passengers to easily shop for the best bargains. The airline recently indicated, however, that it wants to take greater control of how it sells tickets and other goods and services to online travel agencies. American hopes to convince future online ticketing clearinghouses to use an electronic pipeline of its own creation, called AA Direct Connect.
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