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superdunkaroos
12th Oct 2012, 10:01
Telstra BigPond News and Weather (http://bigpondnews.com/articles/Finance/2012/10/12/Emirates_fined_10m_for_cartel_805129.html)

Airline Emirates has admitted it illegally engaged in price-fixing in a global air-freight cartel and has been fined $10 million by Australia's Federal Court.

Emirates settled and admitted to the three-year-old charges brought by the competition regulator, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The airline has admitted to illegally fixing fuel prices, a fuel and security surcharge and customs fees relating to air freight between Indonesia and Australia and other countries between October, 2001 and May, 2006.

It was fined $7 million for that price-fixing and $3 million for trying to fix prices with airline DAS Air Cargo over the supply of air freight services from Australia.

Federal Court judge Anna Katzmann ordered Emirates to restrain from engaging in similar conduct for five years and to pay $500,000 towards the ACCC's costs.

The conduct was found by the court to be a breach of the Competition and Consumer Act.

Emirates is the 10th airline to settle and admit to the price-fixing, with Qantas fined $20 million in Australia and $105 million worldwide in relation to the illegal freight charges.

The ACCC is bringing cartel charges in court next week against other airlines that are defending the charges, including Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Air New Zealand, Thai Airways International and Garuda Indonesia.

The total penalties ordered in Australia against international airlines involved the 16-year-old cartel is $68 million.

These were the highest penalties yet ordered in an ACCC investigation, ACCC chairman Rod Sims said.

'This result sends a strong message that the ACCC and the Australian courts will not tolerate any business, regardless of size or country of origin, engaging in cartel conduct that harms competition in Australia,' he said in a statement.

'Cartel conduct is illegal and often results in increased prices for consumers.'

G&T ice n slice
12th Oct 2012, 11:43
once, just once, wouldn't it be nice if these people came down like a ton (or indeed, tonne) of bricks on the carriers that dump prices/rates to less than the fuelcost?

we all know who they are...

Uplinker
13th Oct 2012, 08:54
Couldn't agree more.

For example; Single engine taxy in and out - only reason is to save money and not pass on the cost of fuel to the pax - bugger the safety considerations.

Ivor Fynn
13th Oct 2012, 09:06
Up linker,

Perhaps if we weren't doing single engine taxi, your fares would have gone up!

A4
13th Oct 2012, 09:52
Uplinker

Bugger the safety considerations

ALL the SOP/guidance re SE Taxi in/out stresses that it should only be done "when appropriate" and it is forbidden in LVP's and contaminated conditions.

So it is up to the crew to assess any threat performing the procedure and decide whether to or not. For example, I won't do it at night with a complex taxi route purely because I'd rather have two sets of eyes concentrating outside. Simple. But,more often than not, it is not an issue to carryout the procedure - and personally I'd rather have fuel available at the other end rather than burning it unnecessarily on the ground prior to departure.

Some people won't ever do it because of some personal mission :hmm: Not very Professional IMHO. Our role is to operate safely, efficiently, comfortably and Professionally - SE taxi procedures fit into that without problem - it's just a case of thinking about it and being sensible.

Fropilot
15th Oct 2012, 22:14
Well said. 14 years with SE Taxi. Saves money but also requires good judgement when to do it. Many factors to consider. When pressured by other factors do not do it.

SE has a bright future. Some of our colleagues need to be dragged into the 21st century.

Permafrost_ATPL
16th Oct 2012, 13:37
once, just once, wouldn't it be nice if these people came down like a ton (or indeed, tonne) of bricks on the carriers that dump prices/rates to less than the fuelcost?

Are you referring to those carriers who are making a profit in a deep recession? As opposed to those who charge more than fuelcost (sic) and are taking huge losses?
;)

fullforward
19th Oct 2012, 10:19
This fine is just ice cream money for the kids for these sheiks.
They are having a good lol at this time.

nnc0
19th Oct 2012, 19:23
".....Federal Court judge Anna Katzmann ordered Emirates to restrain from engaging in similar conduct for five years and to pay $500,000 towards the ACCC's costs....."

So after the 5 yrs are up they are free to go ahead and break the rules again?

NSEU
19th Oct 2012, 22:40
...with Qantas fined $20 million in Australia and $105 million worldwide in relation to the illegal freight charges.

Does this explain some of the $150 million loss for the last financial year for Qantas International :confused: