American and Travelport make friends again
American Airlines and Travelport have resolved their long-running dispute over content.
They have issued a joint announcement confirming that their full content agreements have been extended but did not disclose further details.
The move brings to an end industry-wide concern about the future of the global distribution system model.
The two parties had threatened to take lawsuits against each other for anti-competitive behaviour following American’s decision to terminate an agreement with online travel Orbitz, part-owned by Travelport.
Instead, American was hoping to drive bookings through its on online booking system, Direct Connect.
American had also had a similar dispute with GDS Sabre, but following the truce with Travelport it is expected that it will also be able to reach an agreement with Sabre.
by Bev Fearis
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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