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Northwest Airlines
today announced that it filed a lawsuit earlier today against Sabre Travel Network
in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.
In a
news release issued
yesterday, Sabre announced that it instituted measures that will make it more difficult for
travel agents to view Northwest flights and sell Northwest tickets.
The airline’s suit alleges that Sabre’s bias action against Northwest flights in the airline schedules it provides to
travel agents are in breach of the contract Sabre signed with Northwest in July of 2003. That agreement specifically
prohibits the bias imposed by Sabre yesterday.
“Sabre has clearly breached our contract with the actions they initiated on Aug. 24,” said Al Lenza, vice president of
distribution and e-commerce.
The federal lawsuit seeks damages to compensate Northwest for the impact on its business resulting from Sabre’s
actions.
“The bias they have imposed against Northwest flights are denying the flying public a fair and complete choice of
both schedules and fares,” Lenza added.
On
Tuesday, Northwest Airlines announced steps to align its distribution costs with those of the low-cost carriers it
increasingly is competing with for customers. |
