Anti-competitive Practices of Commercial Airlines in light of Decisions of the European Commission

Abstract

Following the liberalization of the European aviation market, competition among commercial airlines has intensified. In this challenging environment, companies have maximized their efforts to attract more customers and consumers to keep them going and increase their profits. These efforts were accompanied by a high number of anti-competitive practices aimed to exclude existing airlines and preventing new competitors from entering the market. These include, but not limited to the complicity of airlines by sharing markets, raising tickets prices, setting predatory prices, making discriminatory loyalty offers, restricting reservation systems and operating services, as well as misuse by some airlines of their dominant position, without overlooking the detrimental effects of economic conglomerates on fair competition. In response to these illegal practices, the European Commission - supported by European competition legislations with the assistance of the European Unions’ national competition authorities - has taken a firm position to prevent such practices or stop them if committed. The Commission has also toughened fines on airlines violating European fair competition rules in the aviation sector Dr. Ahmad Qasim Farah Associate Professor of Commercial Law Faculty of Law - University of Sharjah Anti-competitive Practices of Commercial Airlines in light of Decisions of the European Commission Keywords: