Emirates fined $10m for cartel
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Emirates fined $10m for cartel
Telstra BigPond News and Weather
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.'
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.'
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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...
we all know who they are...
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.
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.
Ut Sementem Feeceris
Uplinker
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
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.
Bugger the safety considerations
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
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.
Last edited by A4; 13th Oct 2012 at 09:54.
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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.
SE has a bright future. Some of our colleagues need to be dragged into the 21st century.
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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?
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".....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?
So after the 5 yrs are up they are free to go ahead and break the rules again?
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...with Qantas fined $20 million in Australia and $105 million worldwide in relation to the illegal freight charges.
