American Airlines Provides Update On Disputes With Orbitz And Expedia

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American Airlines Provides Update On Disputes With Orbitz And Expedia By Eddy Metcalf

		December 30, 2010 - Last Tuesday American Airlines discontinue displaying and selling fares through Orbitz, American had revoked Orbitz authority to display and sell American Airlines fares citing “failure to reach a mutually beneficial commercial agreement.” On Wednesday American Airlines reported it had ended services with Expedia last Thursday as a result of Expedia website began discriminating against American's flights and schedules by listing them lower in the search display than those of other airlines. American Airlines said it has seen a year-over-year increase in its overall ticket sales since December 21, when it removed its schedules and airfares for American Airlines and American Eagle flights from Orbitz website and since December 23, when American removed its schedules and airfares for American Airlines and American Eagle flights from Expedia.

American further states that while the year-over-year increase in ticket sales is roughly comparable to that seen earlier in December, American has noted a shift in ticket sales to other channels, notably online travel agencies, such as Priceline.com, and referrals from metasearch engines, such as Kayak.com, as well as increased volume on its own website, AA.com. "Our results to date show that consumer choice is alive and well and that our customers continue to have thousands of options to purchase American's competitive fares and convenient schedules," said Derek DeCross, American's Vice President and General Sales Manager. "It is also clear to us that other online travel sites and traditional travel agencies are capitalizing on this market opportunity to gain business. Beyond that, we want to thank our customers and travel partners for their continued loyalty and support. We appreciate your business." DeCross reiterated that American is committed to working with all distribution channels, including traditional travel agencies, online travel agencies and global distribution systems, to benefit from adopting its direct connection model, powered by Farelogix, which delivers to travel agencies and their customers more customized travel choices and options. There is no cost to tap into American's direct connection.

"Our direct connection offers a path to a new era of buying and selling travel services," DeCross added. "Traditionally, airline products have consisted of different flavors of airfares. In the future, however, we envision the world of travel evolving into a much wider variety of products and services beyond fares.

		"Our direct connection will help travel agencies help their own customers by giving them access to customized choices and delivering the best value to travelers. We do not envision a future in which we only sell to our customers through our own branded website. Our goal is to have broad distribution channels and choices for our customers, with our products and services delivered efficiently and without unnecessary costs flowing through the process." Other News Stories AeroVironment Receives Order For 123 Raven Unmanned Aircraft GE’s 1000th Dowty Propeller System Makes First Flight On C-130J Boeing Delivers First 737 Sky Interior To Continental Airlines Alfred E. Kahn “Father of Airline Deregulation" Dies At 93 Busted At The Airport With 49 Pellets Of Heroin In His Stomach Fighting Fires In Ecuador With The Flight Design CTLS Garmin Receives EASA Approval On The G1000 Equipped King Air 200 FAA Proposes Fines Against American Eagle And Continental Airlines Boeing Resumes Flight Testing On The 787 After An Electrical Fire Cocaine Concealed Inside Easter Eggs Onboard LAX Flight Allegiant Air Flight Attendants Vote For Union Representation Puerto Rico Army Guard Aviation UH-72 Lakota Helicopter Goes Down Guns Drugs Money Smuggled Through ATL Atlanta Airport All Airline Passengers Now Screened Against Government Watchlists American Airlines Flights No Longer Available On Orbitz Grizzly 4, Airbus Military A400M Makes First Flight FAA Certifies Reindeer Powered Sleigh For Christmas Eve Flight A Growing Trend Of Ultralight Aircraft Used To Smuggle Drugs CAE To Acquire CHC Helicopter's Training Operations Historic Vote Repealing "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy Passed By The Senate Kaman Delivers First Wing Sections On The A-10 Aircraft Lufthansa’s A320 And A321 To Be Powered By The CFM56-5B Engine NORAD Prepares To Track Santa Claus And His Merry Reindeer Airlines Move To 2D Bar Coded Boarding Passes Pinnacle, Mesaba, Colgan Pilot Negotiators Reach Tentative Agreement Boeing Submits Proposal NASA Commercial Crew Development Program European Aviation Market Profitability Improves But Continues To Lag Canadian Travelers Conflicted Over Airport Security Measures For Kids First Aerial Refueling F/A-18 Contact For EADS KC-45 Tanker Aircraft Passenger Airline Employment For October Down 0.4 Percent OIG To Review FAA Oversight Of Foreign Aircraft Repair Stations Kadir Sentenced To Life For Conspiring To Explode Fuel Tanks At JFK Airport