Airlines seek time from CCI to respond on cartel charges

Private airlines today sought more time to respond to the notices sent by the competition watchdog CCI, which had found evidence of cartelisation and jacking up of fares by them to take advantage of the 10-day strike by Air India pilots.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) had called the private airlines today asking them to clarify their stand and immediately stop opportunistic pricing of tickets.

The private airlines met the CCI today and sought more time to give the response, sources said, adding they would reply to the queries raised by the competition watchdog on May 25.

Earlier this week, the CCI had found evidence of cartelisation by private airlines by jacking up fares during the time of strike.

The CCI has ordered an investigation into the matter and the Director General (Investigation) would submit report within 60 days.

About 800 pilots, belonging to the erstwhile Indian Airlines, had gone on strike between April 27 and May 6 demanding, among other things, pay parity with their Air India counterparts.

The 10-day strike saw disruptions in the services of the national carrier.

According to the preliminary findings, the airlines have been found to have formed a cartel to decide ticket prices during the period when Air India pilots went on strike.