In response to American Airline’s (AA) decision to back down, Travelport has announced it has removed the AA Booking Source Premium surcharge effective midnight 17 February 2011.

“We welcome AA’s decision to remove its surcharges on bookings made through the Travelport GDS in markets outside of the US and Caribbean,” Travelport chief commercial officer Kurt Ekert said in a statement to e-Travel Blackboard.

“This is good news for the travel industry and consumers alike.”  

Earlier this week AA managing director Theo Panagiotoulias said in a statement that the surcharge was proposed by the airline as a way to redeem “steep” fees imposed by Travelport.

In the same statement the carried announced it has decided to revoke the proposal for the Booking Source Premium.