Expedia Grounds American Airlines Following Dispute

Expedia is banning American Airline tickets from its online travel database, claiming that the airline’s new strategy is “anti-consumer” and “anti-choice.” The decision was made this weekend, and follows a dispute between American Airlines and Orbitz, which removed its listings last month, Reuters reports. Expedia claims American Airlines’ new model will result in higher costs and reduced transparency for consumers, and American Airlines has defended the move, by saying it has seen higher ticket sales without the help of the online travel sites.