We hear that theNew Zealand Commerce Commission has filed criminal charges against three airlines it says failed to co-operate during an investigation into allegations of price fixing and other anti-competitive cartel conduct in the cargo industry.
The airlines being prosecuted are Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines Cargoand Aerolineas Argentinas. The charges relate to the companies failing to provide documents and information as required under the Commerce Act, and carry fines of up to NZ$30,000 (US$23,200).
The commission was investigating whether the airlines operated as a cartel,so that instead of competing against each other they worked together to keep prices high.
The commission’s most recent cartelcase, which concluded this year, was against three wood chemical companies,which were fined more than NZ$7.5 million.