Stampa

COMPAGNIE AEREE-FUEL CHARGE


PRESS RELEASE



PRESS RELEASE
An investigation has opened into Alitalia and other airlines in relation to fare increases following the oil price rises


The Competition Authority has received several reports regarding the recent increases in air fares for domestic passenger flights charged by the main Italian airlines following the increase in fuel costs. These reports have pointed out possible anti-competitive behaviour on the part of the companies and the misleading nature of some of the publicity notices which failed to alert the public to the fare increases.
The fare supplement, called a fuel surcharge, was introduced in June 2000 by Alitalia, Air One, Air Europe, Volare Airlines, Meridiana and Air Dolomiti, and was initially set at 10,000 lire for each route. On 1 September this surcharge was raised to 24,000 lire. What caught the attention of the Authority was the fact that these airlines had introduced and varied the surcharge at the same time and in identical amounts, which were therefore not related to the features of each individual route. The Authority therefore resolved on 14 December to begin an investigation into these airlines to see whether or not there existed an agreement or a concerted practice between them designed to introduce a fare surcharge and to standardize the amount.
The investigation will be completed by 29 November 2001.
With regard to publicity, to act promptly, the Authority ordered the provisional suspension of the advertisements at the beginning of October.

Rome, 20 December 2000