WELLINGTON -(Dow Jones)- New Zealand's competition watchdog said Monday it is initiating court proceedings against 13 international airlines, alleging "extensive and long-term cartel activity in the air cargo market" over a nine year period.
The Commerce Commission alleges airlines throughout the world colluded to raise the price of freighting cargo by imposing fuel surcharges for more than nine years, affecting the price of cargo both into and out of New Zealand.
The watchdog alleges the airlines entered an illegal global agreement in 1999/2000 under the auspices of the trade organization International Air Transport Association.
"The airlines imposed the fuel surcharges between 2000 and 2006. The allegations also involve a series of regional price fixing agreements," the commission said in a statement.
"In addition, the Commission alleges that a number of airlines conspired to price fix through the imposition of a security surcharge immediately following the 9/11 terrorist attacks."
It said it was initiating proceeding in the High Court Monday against, Air New Zealand Ltd. (AIR.NZ), British Airways PLC (BAIRY), Cargolux International Airlines S.A, Cathay Pacific Airways Limited (CPCAY), Emirates Airline, PT Garuda Indonesia, Japan Airlines International Co. Limited, Korean Airlines Co. Limited (003490.SE), Malaysian Airline System Berhad Limited (3786.KU), Qantas Airways Limited, Singapore Airlines Cargo Pte Limited and Singapore Airlines Limited, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI.TH), United Airlines Incorporated.
It said the fixing caused extensive harm to the New Zealand economy and affected revenue of NZ$2.9 billion over the nine years.
It said the case potentially involves 60 airlines and a great number of individuals throughout the world.
Some airlines were cooperating with the commission and early resolution was possible in some cases, it said.
-By Simon Louisson, Dow Jones Newswires; 64-4-471-5990; simon.louisson@dowjones.com
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Publié le 14 Décembre 2008 Copyright © 2008 Dowjones