Air France probed over alleged cartel
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.
Lufthansa and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 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 behavior.
In Tokyo, Japan Airlines Corp (JAL) and All Nippon Airways Co Ltd (ANA) said they were not among the airlines being probed. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, Scandinavian airline SAS said on Tuesday that they had not been raided.
The commission has the power to fine companies it finds guilty of involvement in a cartel.
Agencies
(China Daily 03/13/2008 page17)
