Brussels, 27/01/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Friday 27 January, the European Commission opened an investigation to assess whether a transatlantic joint venture between Air France-KLM, Alitalia and Delta, all members of the SkyTeam airline alliance, breaches EU antitrust rules. The goal is to ensure that this tie-up does not harm passengers on EU-US routes.
In 2009 and 2010, three members of the SkyTeam airline alliance - Air France-KLM, Alitalia and Delta - signed agreements establishing a transatlantic joint venture focusing on the routes between Europe and North America. Pursuant to these agreements, the parties fully coordinate their transatlantic operations with respect to capacity, schedules, pricing and revenue management. The parties also share profits and losses of their transatlantic flights.
The Commission will investigate whether the partnership may harm passengers on certain EU-US routes where, in the absence of the joint venture, the parties would be providing competing services. The new investigation is coherent with the Commission's recent enforcement action in relation to the transatlantic joint ventures of the two other airline alliances, Oneworld and Star (see EUROPE 10181 and 9885).
At the same time the Commission has decided to close an initial investigation of illegal deals among the eight SkyTeam members: Aeromexico, Air France, Alitalia, Continental Airlines, Czech Airlines, Delta, KLM and Korean Air Lines. (FG/transl.fl)