US Airways Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Sabre

US Airways LCC today filed a federal civil antitrust lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against Sabre Holdings Corp. to halt anticompetitive and anticonsumer practices, as well as recover monetary damages. According to the complaint, Sabre, which is a dominant distributor of airline fares and content to travel agents, has engaged in a pattern of exclusionary conduct to shut out competition, protect its monopoly pricing power, and maintain its technologically-obsolete business model. US Airways contends that Sabre has wielded its significant market power and control through exclusionary commitments from travel agents and other Global Distribution Systems (GDSs), as well as through anticompetitive requirements placed on US Airways and other airlines in order to sell their tickets. All of these actions by Sabre hurt consumers through higher prices, reduced innovation and fewer choices.