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EU files antitrust charges against three major airlines

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-10-03 10:29

BRUSSELS: The European Commission said on Friday it had launched antitrust charges against British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia for their proposed cooperation on transatlantic routes.

The European Union (EU)'s antitrust watchdog said it sent statement of objections, a formal step in EU antitrust investigations, to the three airlines in September, in relation to their proposed cooperation on passenger air transport services on transatlantic routes which it considered may be in breach of EU rules on restrictive business practices.

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Pursuant to their agreements, the three airlines, which are members of the Oneworld airline alliance, intend to jointly manage schedules, capacity and pricing, as well as share revenues on transatlantic routes between North America and Europe.

The commission said parallel investigations into the proposed cooperation between four Star Alliance members and that between Skyteam members are still ongoing.