The Illinois Appellate Court has upheld the order of 1st June by a Chicago judge compelling American Airlines to continue supplying Orbitz.com, which is 48% owned by Travelport, with flight and fare information and to reinstate Orbitz.com’s ability to issue tickets for AA flights.
The three-judge panel, who reached the unanimous verdict, said: “Customers searching for travel packages want to book the flights they find. When American frustrates that purpose by not allowing the customers to use Orbitz to book its flights, customers will likely look to other online agencies.”
Travelport, which also owns Galileo and Worldspan, said it would continue to pursue its case against the airline – but would also work with it “to ensure that consumers, corporations and travel agents continue to benefit from the most transparent travel booking processes possible.”
