US Airways Antitrust Suit Vs. Sabre Kicks Off April 22

Sabre Travel International has been in the news during the war in Ukraine, as the agency removed Aeroflot from its global air ticketing system. However, this sudden bout of attention also got Sabre sued for antitrust violations in 2011, and US Airways’ case against it is coming to trial.

On April 19, US District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Lorna G. Schofield held a final pre-trial conference, after remand from the Second Circuit. Inner City Press covered it, it will the trial.    

The issues were nitty gritty. How many lawyers are coming to Courtroom 110 in 40 Foley Square with laptops? How will the press be able to cover the trial? (Why not a call-in line, such as the US v. Parnas trial had?)  Even, how much of particular swear words in email exhibits to redact. (Two letters at least, it seems).

US Airways, which merged with American Airlines in 2013, alleges that Sabre conspired with Amadeus and Travelport to monopolize distribution services to travel agencies in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Southlake, Texas-based Sabre is the country’s largest owner and operator of an electronic network through which travel agents search and book flights that are listed by the airlines. Most corporate air travel is booked through the industry’s global distribution systems. Sabre  is used by variouscompanies to search, price, book, and purchase travel services, accomodations, and tours.

The jury questionnaires have been picked up. Voir dire begins on April 22.

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