Direct-Connect Salvo: AA Accuses Sabre of ‘Group Boycott’

American Airlines accused Sabre Travel Network of organizing “an unlawful group boycott against American.” The carrier said the boycott was part of a five-year-old plan to stifle the competitive threat posed by the carrier’s direct-connect strategy.

In a heavily redacted amendment to its antitrust complaint against Sabre, American described an orchestrated attempt to use several tools, including bias, “to inflict enough pain to force American to abandon its efforts to move to more efficient means of distribution.”

Dates to 2006
“Sabre’s concerted effort to punish American included biasing the display of American’s information in its GDS and by facilitating [redacted]. Sabre has also organized, monitored, and policed a group boycott in which [redacted] agreed to – and did – ‘book away’ from American.”

American said the topic of direct connections to travel management companies came up during its 2006 negotiations with Sabre, which resulted in its current full-content agreement. The carrier said  Sabre began formulating its battle plan immediately “as the ink on that agreement was drying.”

Sabre’s denial
In an email response, Sabre said it “denies the allegations, and this is yet another example of American Airlines distorting the facts and trying to use the courts to negotiate a new contract. We remain willing and committed to negotiating a new distribution agreement that meets the needs of all constituents whenever the airline is ready.”

Sabre and American have agreed to maintain the status quo until 14 days after American’s antitrust lawsuit against Sabre is resolved in Tarrant County (Texas) Court. No trial has been set.

AA’s prayer for relief
In the complaint’s prayer for relief, American asked the court to prevent Sabre “from entering into or enforcing any provision in any agreement with travel agents, corporate customers, or other industry players that explicitly or otherwise prevents such a party from obtaining American fare and flight information and booking American flights through AA Direct Connect.”

The carrier also asked the court to bar Sabre “from biasing the display of American’s fare and flight information, booking away from American’s flights, increasing American’s booking fees, or soliciting or encouraging travel agents, corporate customers, or other industry players to do so.”