Brussels to probe seven airlines

The European Commission has decided to open two formal antitrust proceedings in relation to cooperation between certain airlines on transatlantic routes, April 2009.

The first investigation concerns both existing and planned cooperation between four current or prospective members of the Star Alliance – Air Canada, Continental, Lufthansa and United.

The second investigation relates to proposed cooperation between three members of the oneworld alliance – American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia.

The Commission will assess the compatibility of each of these airlines’ cooperation with European rules on restrictive business practices (Article 81 of the EC Treaty and Article 53 of the EEA Agreement).

Deutsche Welle, 20.4.09: Airlines face European antitrust investigation http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,4192227,00.html

European Commission: MEMO/09/168: Antitrust: Commission opens formal proceedings against certain members of Star and oneworld airline alliances http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=MEMO/09/168&format=DOC&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en

BBC News, 20.4.09: Brussels to probe seven airlines http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8008051.stm

France24, 20.4.09: EU probes route pacts between seven airlines http://www.france24.com/en/20090420-star-alliance-oneworld-probe-european-commission-lufthansa-air-canada-aviation

EurActiv, 21.4.09: EU probes transatlantic airline alliances http://www.euractiv.com/transport/eu-probes-transatlantic-airline-news-221681

New York Times, 20.4.09: Europe Starts Inquiry of Airline Alliances http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/business/global/21air.html?_r=1&ref=global

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