Orbitz Company

Blending commerce with politics, Orbitz Worldwide has launched a campaign to reverse a law that prohibits travel to Cuba for most U.S. citizens and green-card holders. Through the opencuba.org website, visitors can petition the White House, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and members of Congress to eliminate the Kennedy-era trade and travel restrictions.

Five California-based travel agencies are suing major U.S. airlines and online travel site Orbitz Inc. for anti-competitive practices and have asked a federal judge to certify their lawsuit as a class action.

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Swissair has lost its chief executive to a consumer travel Web site that was formed by five big U.S. airlines. Jeffrey Katz, a 45-year-old American who has been at the Swiss flag carrier for three years, will become chairman, president and chief executive of Orbitz.

Orbitz said it now can book tickets directly in the reservation system of American Airlines, an arrangement it intends to expand soon to other carriers.

Orbitz, a travel Web site funded by five major airlines, is set for launch in June after the U.S. Transportation Department declined to prevent the start of the venture or seek changes in its business plan.