Orbitz is owned by Expedia Group (the United States, NASDAQ: EXPE), which acquired the brand on 17 September 2015.[1][2] Orbitz was founded in 2001 in Chicago, Illinois and was independent until 2015.
Orbitz was launched in 2001 by five American airlines as a joint venture intended to compete with the agencies selling their seats, an arrangement that drew antitrust scrutiny from the outset. Expedia acquired it in 2015 for about $1.6 billion, so the challenger became part of the incumbent.
Expedia acquired Orbitz Worldwide for $12 per share in cash, about $1.6 billion including debt. The United States Department of Justice closed its review without challenge, concluding the merged firm would still face competition from Priceline and from hotels selling direct.