Skift Take
American Airlines has lashed out at U.S. travel agents in a scathing response to the complaint that the airline's robust distribution strategy was unfair.
American Airlines has responded to the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA) complaint about the airline's ticket distribution through the New Distribution Capability (NDC), calling it "a frivolous compilation of rhetoric and unsupported allegations."
The airline refuted ASTA's claim that its actions harm competition or consumers. It suggested that ASTA's complaint represents an effort by some travel agencies to impede the pace of innovation due to their reluctance to invest in new technologies.
"ASTA's complaint is not an effort to protect consumers: it is an effort to protect certain agencies," said American. "It is a plea to the government, on behalf of some travel agencies, to slow the pace of innovation for those agencies that have not invested in new technologies or adjusted old ways of doing business."
The BackgroundIn a complaint filed in July wi