Brussels, 14/03/2005 (Agence Europe) - On Monday the European Commission published a consultation document seeking views on whether the International Air Transport Association (IATA) passenger tariff conferences can continue to be exempted from the EC Treaty's ban on restrictive business practices Airlines within the EU benefit from a block exemption allowing them to discuss prices for scheduled passenger flights, provided these prices are for interlining (consumers because they can use one ticket for a journey involving flights on several different airlines - Commission Regulation (EEC) No 1617/93: Article 81). In practice, the block exemption allows IATA to organise tariff conferences where carriers agree on interlining prices. Airlines wishing to participate in the IATA system for interlining can interline with others at the rates set in the conferences. The Commission recognises interlining is a clear benefit for consumers which should be maintained. A first consultation paper was published on 30 June 2004, eliciting a mixed response. While airlines favour a prolongation of existing exemptions, corporate customers and travel agents do not. Interested parties are invited to submit comments before 1 April, before a decision is reached on a possible revision of Regulation 1617/93: http: //europa.eu.int/comm/competition/antitrust/others/discussion_paper_en.pdf