NEW YORK — American Airlines has won a US$15.3 million antitrust lawsuit against Sabre, on the heels of allegations that the GDS charged inflated booking fees and used its position and power to pressure airlines into paying the higher fees and sign unfair contracts.

American Airlines had been seeking $73 million in the suit. A New York City jury awarded the carrier close to $5.1 million which will triple under federal antitrust law in the U.S.

For its part Sabre wants the verdict set aside and, failing that, will launch an appeal.

American Airlines, represented in the lawsuit as US Airways which it merged with in 2013, also alleged that Sabre conspired with its competitors to not compete with each other for airline content including flight and fare information. The jury rejected that claim.