Cartel crazy

SOUTH Africa is the latest country to target eight international airlines for their part in a global airfreight cartel that started in 1996 and ran for 10 years. Competition Commission investigators allege that the cartel colluded to fix fuel surcharges on airfreight between 1996 and 2006.

Air France-KLM, Alitalia, British Airways (BA), Cargolux, Lufthansa, Martinair, Singapore Airlines and South African Airways all face being charged should South Africa’s Competition Tribunal decide to act on the findings.

If the tribunal does decide to prosecute, the investigators have asked it to fine the airlines 10 per cent of their annual local turnover.

Meanwhile, aftershocks of the combined US/Europe cartel action are still being felt.

BA, who is being sued in the UK for its part in the cartel, has issued legal proceedings against 32 other airlines to make them equally responsible for any fines it receives.

For the full story read the latest free digital edition of Air Cargo News, dated 9 August, here.

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