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NEWS LETTER 2 0 1 0
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British Airways, American Airlines, and Iberia Commitments
on Transatlantic Passenger Air Transport Markets have been
Approved by the Commission
*
The Commission has approved the commitments offered by British
Airways, American Airlines, and Iberia, members of the Oneworld Airline
Alliance.
Facts
Antitrust Proceedings
In April 2009, the European Commission opened two formal antitrust
proceedings in relation to cooperation between certain airline companies.
This cooperation concerns transatlantic routes. The first investigation
relates to the cooperation between Air Canada, Continental, Lufthansa,
United
1
, and the second to proposed cooperation between three members
of the Oneworld Alliance, American Airlines, British Airways, and Iberia.
This summary concerns the second investigation.
Anti-competitive Agreements
The agreements between airline companies consider commercial,
marketing and operational coordination on transatlantic routes, principally
routes between the EU and North America. This coordination involves
revenue-sharing and joint management of schedules, pricing, and capacity
on all routes between North America and Europe.
Statement of Objections
In September 2009, the Commission sent a Statement of Objections
(hereinafter referred to as the “SO”) to American Airlines, British Airways,
and Iberia
2
. The SO underlined that the extensive cooperation between the
aforementioned airlines may breach EU competition rules on restrictive
*
Article of August 2010
1 Current and prospective members of Star Alliance.
2 A Statement of Objections is a formal step in Commission antitrust investigations in which the
Commission informs the parties concerned in writing of the objections raised against them.
The addressee of a Statement of Objections can reply in writing to the Statement of Objections,
setting out all facts known to it which are relevant to its defense against the objections raised
by the Commission. The party may also request an oral hearing to present its comments on the
case.