Air France joins list in price-fixing probe
PARIS–Air France has joined a list of international airlines being investigated by the European Commission over suspected price-fixing of flights to Japan, a statement from the company confirmed.
"Air France is providing the commission with its full cooperation," the French flag carrier said in a statement dated March 11.
Germany's Lufthansa and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the Dutch arm of Air France, both said on Tuesday they were involved in the probe. A source at Italy's Alitalia said it too was raided.
European Commission anti-trust investigators said on Tuesday they had raided the offices of several international airlines operating long-haul scheduled flights to Japan in an investigation into suspected cartel activity.
Such inspections are a preliminary step in investigations into suspected cartels and do not necessarily mean companies are guilty of anti-competitive behaviour.
In Tokyo, Japan Airlines Corp (JAL) and All Nippon Airways Co Ltd (ANA) said they were not among the airlines being probed http://payday-z.com. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Scandinavian airline SAS said on Tuesday that they had not been raided.
Spain's Iberia said its flights to Japan were operated on a code-share basis and it had no information on the investigation.
The Commission has the power to fine companies it finds guilty of involvement in a cartel.
Filed under: economics by Pascal