Air New Zealand fined in Australia air cargo cartel case

Air New Zealand was today fined Aus$15 million (US$11 million) by an Australian court for its part in a global air cargo cartel involving major international airlines.

The carrier was taken to court by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over allegations it had agreements with other airlines to fix the price of fuel and insurance surcharges on freight services to and from international airports from 2002 to 2007.

"These illegal price-fixing agreements unfairly reduced competition for the transport cost for goods flown into Australia," ACCC commissioner Sarah Court said in a statement.

"This decision sends a strong warning to overseas and domestic operators that the ACCC can and will continue to defend competition and the rights of Australian customers and businesses by taking action against anti-competitive conduct."