BA faces 'cartel' investigation

[Dave Noble]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5104946.stm

 

[Mal]

Wow, that is breaking news. Very scant details at BBC at the moment.

I see this line as promising: "The probe - which also covers the imposition of fuel surcharges - extends to other airlines as well."

I am really feeling that legislative bodies are starting to see and wake up to the introduction of fuel surcharges...

 

[Dave Noble]

As of 17:33 EET the page has been updated with more info

If found guilty of anti-competitive behaviour, BA could be fined up to 10% of its worldwide sales, which came in at £8.5bn for the year to 31 March.

Commercial director Martin George and, head of communications, Iain Burns, have been given leave of absence during the investigation.

Dave

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Wow, that is breaking news. Very scant details at BBC at the moment.

I see this line as promising: "The probe - which also covers the imposition of fuel surcharges - extends to other airlines as well."

I am really feeling that legislative bodies are starting to see and wake up to the introduction of fuel surcharges...

There is some discussion on BA forum of FT. As it reads at the moment, it appears to only be an investigation of collusion, not of the whether the fuel surcharges are excessive or whether they should be included into the fare.

 

[Dave Noble]

It looks like Vermin Atlantic nicely started it all off with their tip-off ,about a BA Executive allegedly informing them (illegally) of an impending fuel fine hike, to OFT and DOJ

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5109014.stm

Dave

 

[JohnK]

Apparently there was a show on BBC 2 Monday night at 10pm about accusations of price fixing levelled at British Airways by Virgin.

Anyone have any details? Are you able to download show? I am not even going to try as it would take me a day to download!

 

[v8Statesman]

That sound interesting. Will look for it. If anyone asks, I will be happy to cough "lend you the tape" cough.

 

[v8Statesman]

Here is a link to the info on the show.

BBC NEWS | Business | The Great Plane Robbery?

 

[Standby]

Here is a link to the info on the show.

BBC NEWS | Business | The Great Plane Robbery?

The same competition law applies here as far as playing the imunity card goes.
IE 3 aussie companies make widgets and the 3 inadvertantly discussed pricing at a BBQ and subsequently the price of widgets increased.If company A senses the comp authority is onto their game they by Dob in the other 2 companies . Company A doenst get investigated/gains imunityfrom any outcomes involving Company B & C.
I'm not suggesting Virgin Atlantic did anything wrong but they were the first to approach regulators.
The resignations of the BA execs doesnt paint a nice picture though.
Its strange that given BA / Vir ATL history they would even be on talking terms to alegedly have these sorts of discussions