American, Travelport Request Stay in Antitrust Suit

American Airlines, Orbitz and Travelport — which have been battling in court for two years — have proposed to lay down their swords to go back to the negotiating table.

American issued a statement saying that the three companies have jointly asked the U.S. District Court in Fort Worth, Texas — which is handling American’s antitrust suit against Orbitz, Travelport and Sabre — to stay the case, in order to give the companies time to “engage in renewed discussions.”

In the motion, the three companies said that Sabre opposes the joint motion.

The stay applies only to this case, not to a case involving American and Sabre in Texas state court.

American said in its statement that it prefers mediation to legal solutions, but that past mediations have not worked and there is no guarantee that this renewed effort will either.

“However, the litigation has progressed sufficiently that all parties to the motion believe that a new round of settlement discussions are warranted to determine if a resolution is possible," American said.

The move follows an Aug. 17 ruling by Judge Terry Means that dismissed Travelport’s antitrust claim that American is operating as a dominant or near-dominant carrier in some city pairs.

http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Travel-Technology/American-and-Travelport-request-stay-in-antitrust-suit/