We’ve issued a new statement clarifying Kayak.com’s position on its relationship with American Airlines. Here it is, straight from the source:

Kayak.com is disappointed that American Airlines has chosen to misrepresent to loyal users that they terminated their relationship with Kayak.com. The truth is that Kayak.com terminated the relationship because we refused to concede to AA’s demand to not display AA fares available through online travel agencies alongside those from AA.com. Kayak.com became aware of AA’s misstatement after our user feedback system started receiving supportive emails from consumers disappointed with AA’s actions, a number of whom forwarded us the inaccurate email AA sent out last night. We hope that AA will not only agree to again allow consumers to compare AA fares on Kayak.com and SideStep.com, but will refrain from making false statements.

While we are still disappointed by AA’s actions, we remain committed to providing consumers with a comprehensive set of search results and choice of where to purchase. Kayak.com and SideStep.com are continuing to show schedules only (not prices) for American Airlines flights. Consumers are still able to compare AA itineraries along with those from hundreds of leading airlines, and if they wish to find the price or purchase an AA ticket, they can still do so by clicking on the “Info” link and we’ll send them into the Orbitz booking path. We hope American changes its mind and again allows consumers to compare AA fares on Kayak.com and SideStep.com.

You may have heard the news, or read it, as the case may be, in the Wall Street Journal, but we wanted to make sure you’ve got the official statement from the source. Here ’tis:

This morning, Kayak.com became a bit less comprehensive as fares from American Airlines are no longer available on our website. American asked us to suppress search results from online travel agency partners as a condition to displaying their fares on Kayak.com and SideStep.com. We remain committed to providing a comprehensive and objective display to our users.

Therefore, Kayak.com and SideStep.com are displaying schedules only (not prices) for American Airlines flights. Consumers are still able to compare AA itineraries along with those from hundreds of leading airlines, and if they wish to find the price or purchase an AA ticket, they can still do so by clicking on the “Info” link and we’ll send them into the Orbitz booking path. We think this is a step backwards for consumers and we hope American changes its mind.

As you probably know, there’s been a lot of chitter chatter in the media this week about Kayak.com and American Airlines. And while some (like Jaunted) got the story right, others published pieces that fell short of the truth. To that end, here are Kayak.com’s official statements regarding American Airlines’ decision to alter its relationship with Kayak.com:

July 23, 2008 -Official statement in response to AA press release pulling out of Kayak.com: At Kayak.com, we are dedicated to providing a comprehensive and objective display to our users. We’re unwilling to amend this pro-consumer philosophy that is the core of our business by suppressing results based on a partner’s request. We welcome American Airlines to rejoin Kayak.com’s objective results at any time.

And:

CEO Steve’s response on TechCrunch, who got the story very wrong: “American asked us to suppress search results from competing websites as a condition to displaying their fares. This is simply not something that Kayak will do. Imagine Sony telling Best Buy that they couldn’t sell Panasonic?”

More from Steve:

July 24, 2008 - CEO Steve’s statement: AA recently informed us that we could no longer display their fares directly unless we suppressed search results from other websites (e.g. Orbitz, Cheaptickets).

We simply cannot allow travel providers to compromise the comprehensiveness or objectivity of Kayak’s results. Other folks have asked us to in the past, and we’ve always said no. Choice on what and where to buy is central to Kayak’s value proposition.

So, Kayak terminated our relationship with AA on a direct basis. We still expect to display AA fares from Orbitz and potentially other travel agencies. And I do remain optimistic that AA reconsiders its approach to us.

Last but not least, note that Kayak.com is still currently showing fares for American Airlines flights available through American Airlines’ web site and our online travel agent partners.

It’s hard for me to blog about the arrival of in-flight Internet service - my god, I’ve waited sooo long. And the waiting has gotten tiresome. I’d almost rather just forget about it until one glorious day, when I board a plane, and - bam! - I can use the time to catch up on all those articles and emails and RSS feeds I’ve been neglecting. Yes, many among you will no doubt read a sentiment like that and say, okay, bo-rang, go read a book or something.

But for me, the notion of in-flight Internet has always been accompanied by the imaginary trills of angels from on high.

And while I said I didn’t really *want* to blog about it, because it just makes me too emotional, here I find myself doing it anyway.

So I might as well tell you that American Airlines is now saying that after testing on one plane earlier this summer, its GoGo Inflight Internet service will be available later this month on at least 15 of its planes, the 767 200s, according to MSNBC story In-flight Internet Access Takes Off. Look out for the $12.95 service ($9.95 on shorter routes) on flights between JFK, LAX, San Francisco and Miami (as shown in the above map).