30/06/2008 (Agence Europe) - In the United States, several airlines have been found guilty by national authorities of taking part in a cartel in the air freight market. Air France/KLM, Cathay Pacific, the Scandinavian alliance SAS and Martinair were fined a total of US $504 million by the US Justice Department. An investigation by the European Commission, which, in collaboration with US authorities, carried out spot checks in 2006, is also looking closely at the role of several companies in the cartel. The companies are suspected of coordinating fuel, security and insurance surcharges. The Commission has not revealed names, but Air France/KLM, Lufthansa, Japan Airlines, SAS and British Airways, have all confirmed that they had been inspected. The Commission investigation is continuing. (C.D./transl.rt)