<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=452><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Published October 3, 2009
</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Aussie court dismisses SIA appeal
Tussle centred on jurisdictional right of Australian watchdog to probe alleged cargo price fixing
By VEN SREENIVASAN
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(Singapore)
SINGAPORE Airlines is considering its next move after the Australian Federal Court yesterday dismissed its appeal over the jurisdictional right of the country's anti-competition watchdog to investigate its alleged cargo price fixing.
'SIA Cargo notes today's decision, and will study it in detail and consider its implications,' SIA said in a statement. 'Information and documents had been sought from SIA Cargo by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) as part of an investigation of air cargo carriers concerning surcharges and rates.'
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission began legal proceedings against SIA and nine other international carriers in December last year for alleged cartel-like behaviour. The alleged price fixing of freight rates and security charges were said to have occured between 2001 and 2005.
The probe is one of several by antitrust watchdogs worldwide who are believed to have been monitoring a number of airlines. Apart from SIA Cargo, this list also include Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand and British Airways.
Investigations are ongoing in the United States, Europe and South Korea.
The latest twist comes just five months after the court threw out price-fixing claims by ACCC against SIA Cargo and ordered it to re-submit its case.
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>In May, Federal Court Justice Peter Jacobson said the ACCC had failed to show, except for one instance in its list of claims, how price-fixing between destinations outside Australia could affect competition within the country.
The ACCC resubmitted its case to the courts.
In its statement, SIA said it respected the ACCC's investigative process and has co-operated with the watchdog in its investigations, but wishes to ensure that the process is fair.
'These proceedings were brought to clarify important questions about the territorial reach of the Trade Practices Act,' SIA said. 'As the company has indicated in the past, it remains committed to cooperating with the authorities on the investigation to the extent it is able and it is within the jurisdiction of the authorities.'
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</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top width=452 colSpan=2>Aussie court dismisses SIA appeal
Tussle centred on jurisdictional right of Australian watchdog to probe alleged cargo price fixing
By VEN SREENIVASAN
<TABLE class=storyLinks border=0 cellSpacing=4 cellPadding=1 width=136 align=right><TBODY><TR class=font10><TD width=20 align=right>
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</TD><TD>Feedback</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>(Singapore)
SINGAPORE Airlines is considering its next move after the Australian Federal Court yesterday dismissed its appeal over the jurisdictional right of the country's anti-competition watchdog to investigate its alleged cargo price fixing.
'SIA Cargo notes today's decision, and will study it in detail and consider its implications,' SIA said in a statement. 'Information and documents had been sought from SIA Cargo by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) as part of an investigation of air cargo carriers concerning surcharges and rates.'
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission began legal proceedings against SIA and nine other international carriers in December last year for alleged cartel-like behaviour. The alleged price fixing of freight rates and security charges were said to have occured between 2001 and 2005.
The probe is one of several by antitrust watchdogs worldwide who are believed to have been monitoring a number of airlines. Apart from SIA Cargo, this list also include Lufthansa, Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand and British Airways.
Investigations are ongoing in the United States, Europe and South Korea.
The latest twist comes just five months after the court threw out price-fixing claims by ACCC against SIA Cargo and ordered it to re-submit its case.
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The ACCC resubmitted its case to the courts.
In its statement, SIA said it respected the ACCC's investigative process and has co-operated with the watchdog in its investigations, but wishes to ensure that the process is fair.
'These proceedings were brought to clarify important questions about the territorial reach of the Trade Practices Act,' SIA said. 'As the company has indicated in the past, it remains committed to cooperating with the authorities on the investigation to the extent it is able and it is within the jurisdiction of the authorities.'
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