Mike King, Special Correspondent | Jun 15, 2012 8:46AM EDT
Malaysia Airlines and its cargo division MASkargo have agreed to pay a multimillion-dollar penalty for their role in fixing prices on routes from Indonesia to Australia in the early part of the last decade.
MASkargo admitted it reached “understandings” with certain airlines regarding fuel surcharges from 2002 to 2005, security surcharges from 2001 to 2005 and customs fees from 2004 to 2005 on the Indonesia-Australia lane.
The carrier agreed to pay 6 million Australian dollars (US$6 million) and A$500,000 in legal costs to settle the litigation under the agreement with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Qantas, British Airways, Air France/KLM, Cargolux, Martinair, Japan Airlines and Korean Air previously reached agreements with the ACCC over price fixing on Australian lanes.
“Since the time of the events relating to the admissions in the air cargo litigation, Malaysia Airlines and MASkargo have revised their competition compliance policies and training, to prevent any conduct that might be alleged to be in breach of any competition laws, further supporting a culture of compliance,” the carrier said in a statement.
Contact Mike King at Michael@borderline.eu.com
