Northwest Sues Sabre for Breach of Contract

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.