Press and Photo Gallery
Brussels Probes 7 Airlines
Monday 20 April, 2009
Cooperation between airlines can be beneficial to the consumer but it must never be allowed to develop into anti-competitive collusion, Timothy Kirkhope MEP, Conservative leader in the European Parliament, said today after the commission launched a competition probe into seven airlines.
One probe is between the Star Alliance members Air Canada, Lufthansa, Continental and United Airlines. The other is into One World's American airlines, British Airways and Iberia. The alliances were said to be extensive, involving co-operation on schedules, pricing and revenue management, according to a commission spokesperson. The official was also keen to stress that "there was no conclusive proof" of any wrong-doing.
Mr Kirkhope said:
"Cooperation between airlines can bring huge benefits to travellers but if it stands in the way of open competition then the consumer will suffer. Competition and cooperation should go hand in hand.
"The marketplace has already been distorted by the Open Skies deal, which gives US carriers full access to our markets whilst blocking our operators out of theirs. While anti-competitive behaviour is never acceptable, we have to ask whether international agreements are themselves encouraging this behaviour."
ENDS
