This is a partial list of notable price fixing and bid rigging cases.
Australia
Airlines
The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has taken several airlines to the Federal Court of Australia seeking penalties for alleged price fixing contraventions. As of 2011, the ACCC's activities are:
Qantas The ACCC instituted proceedings against Qantas seeking penalties for alleged price fixing contraventions relating to fuel surcharges applied to international carriage of air cargo between 2002 and early 2006.ACCC launches its first cases in alleged air freight cartel, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, 28 October 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2011 The conduct concerned collusion between competitors over fuel surcharges which the ACCC alleged and Qantas admitted had the purpose and likely effect of fixing or maintaining a component of the price for air cargo services. The Federal Court in Sydney ordered Qantas to pay $20 million in pecuniary penalties for breaching the price fixing provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974.Court orders Qantas to pay $20 million for price fixing, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, 11 December 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2011Qantas cops fine for price fixing, 11 December 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
British Airways The ACCC instituted proceedings against British Airways seeking penalties for alleged price fixing contraventions relating to fuel surcharges applied to international carriage of air cargo between 2002 and early 2006. The Federal Court in Sydney ordered British Airways to pay $5 million in pecuniary penalties for breaching the price fixing provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974. The ACCC instituted proceedings alleging British Airways reached an understanding with Lufthansa Cargo in relation to the imposition of fuel surcharges on some of its international air cargo services between 2002 and early 2006.Court orders British Airways PLC to pay $5 million for price fixing, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, 11 December 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
Singapore Airlines Cargo The ACCC alleged that Singapore Airlines Cargo, between 2001 and 2005, entered into arrangements or understandings with other international air cargo carriers that had the purpose or effect of fixing the price of a fuel surcharge and a security surcharge that was applied to air cargo carried by Singapore Airlines Cargo and other airlines including to and from Australia.ACCC institutes proceedings against Singapore Airlines Cargo Pte Ltd for alleged price-fixing, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, 22 December 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2011Singapore Airlines to defend ACCC price fixing claim, ABC News, 22 December 2008. Retrieved 18 May 2011
Air France The ACCC instituted proceedings against Air France seeking penalties for alleged price fixing between early 2003 and 2006. The alleged contraventions relate to fuel surcharges applied to international carriage of air cargo during that period.ACCC institutes proceedings against more airlines in alleged air freight cartel, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, 10 February 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011 The Federal Court in Sydney ordered pecuniary penalties ($6 million in total with KLM) for breaching the price fixing provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974. The ACCC alleged the airline reached understandings with other international airlines in relation to the imposition of fuel surcharges applied to international carriage of air cargo during that period between early 2003 and 2006. Air France admitted to making and giving effect to illegal price fixing understandings with Lufthansa, repeatedly exchanging assurances with Lufthansa in the implementation of fuel surcharge increases for international carriage of air cargo across their global networks.Court orders airlines to pay a total of $16 million in penalties for price fixing, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, 16 February 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011Federal Court fines Air France, KLM, Martinari and Cargolux $16 million for price-fixing cartel, The Australian, 16 February 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011
Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij (KLM) The ACCC instituted proceedings against KLM seeking penalties for alleged price fixing between early 2003 and 2006. The alleged contraventions relate to fuel surcharges applied to international carriage of air cargo during that period.ACCC institutes proceedings against more airlines in alleged air freight cartel, 10 February 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011 The Federal Court in Sydney ordered pecuniary penalties ($6 million in total with Air France) for breaching the price fixing provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974. The ACCC alleged the airline reached understandings with other international airlines in relation to the imposition of fuel surcharges applied to international carriage of air cargo during that period between early 2003 and 2006. KLM admitted to making and giving effect to illegal price fixing understandings with Lufthansa, repeatedly exchanging assurances with Lufthansa in the implementation of fuel surcharge increases for international carriage of air cargo across their global networks.
Martinair Holland The ACCC instituted proceedings against Martinair seeking penalties for alleged price fixing between early 2003 and 2006. The alleged contraventions relate to fuel surcharges applied to international carriage of air cargo during that period. The Federal Court in Sydney ordered pecuniary penalties of $5 million for breaching the price fixing provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974. The ACCC alleged the airline reached understandings with other international airlines in relation to the imposition of fuel surcharges applied to international carriage of air cargo during that period between early 2003 and 2006. Martinair admitted that by no later than early 2003, it had arrived and gave effect to illegal price fixing understandings with KLM and Cargolux that they would have discussions and exchange and confirm information with each other in relation to the application of fuel surcharges on cargo carried internationally by air across their respective global networks.
Cargolux The ACCC instituted proceedings against Cargolux seeking penalties for alleged price fixing between early 2003 and 2006. The alleged contraventions relate to fuel surcharges applied to international carriage of air cargo during that period. The Federal Court in Sydney ordered pecuniary penalties of $5 million for breaching the price fixing provisions of the Trade Practices Act 1974. The ACCC alleged the airline reached understandings with other international airlines in relation to the imposition of fuel surcharges applied to international carriage of air cargo during that period between early 2003 and 2006. Cargolux admitted to making and giving effect to illegal price fixing understandings with each of Lufthansa, Air France and KLM that each of them would impose a fuel surcharge on cargo carried internationally by air across their networks, (except where local conditions in a particular port or in a particular geographic area prevented the imposition, or full imposition, of the fuel surcharge).
Cathay Pacific The ACCC instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Cathay Pacific. The ACCC alleged that between 2000 and 2006, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd entered into over 70 arrangements or understandings with other international air cargo carriers that had the purpose or effect of fixing the price of a fuel surcharge, a security surcharge and rates that were applied to air cargo carried by Cathay Pacific and other airlines. The ACCC alleged that the arrangements or understandings were reached in countries including Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates, India, Japan and Italy. The ACCC sort declarations, injunctive relief, pecuniary penalties, and costs.ACCC institutes proceedings against Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd for alleged price-fixing of air freight, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, 30 April 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011ACCC takes legal action against Cathay Pacific, Aircargo Asia Pacific, 30 April 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011
Emirates The ACCC instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Emirates. The ACCC alleged that between 2002 and 2006, Emirates entered into arrangements or understandings with other international air cargo carriers that had the purpose and effect of fixing the price of certain fuel surcharges, security surcharges and rates that were applied to air cargo carried by Emirates and other airlines. The ACCC alleged that the arrangements or understandings were reached in countries including Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, United Arab Emirates and India. The ACCC sort declarations, injunctive relief, pecuniary penalties, and costs.ACCC takes action against Emirates for alleged air freight price fixing, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, 18 August 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011Emirates accused of freight price-fixing, Sydney Morning Herald, 18 August 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011
Garuda Indonesia The ACCC instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Garuda Indonesia. The ACCC alleged that between 2001 and 2006, Garuda Indonesia entered into arrangements or understandings with other international air cargo carriers that had the purpose or effect of fixing the price of a fuel surcharge and a security surcharge that were applied to air cargo carried by PT Garuda Indonesia Ltd and other airlines. The ACCC alleged that the arrangements or understandings were reached in Indonesia and Hong Kong. The ACCC sort declarations, injunctive relief, pecuniary penalties, and costs.ACCC institutes proceedings against PT Garuda Indonesia Ltd for alleged price fixing of air freight, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, 2 September 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011
Thai Airways The ACCC alleged that between 2001 and 2006, Thai Airways entered into arrangements or understandings with other international air cargo carriers in specific countries that had the purpose or effect of fixing the price of fuel surcharges and security surcharges that were applied to air cargo carried by Thai Airways and other airlines. The ACCC alleged that the arrangements or understandings were reached in Singapore, Indonesia and Hong Kong – plus Thailand in the case of a security surcharge called a crisis surcharge – for surcharges applied to cargo originating in those countries. The ACCC sort declarations, injunctive relief, pecuniary penalties, and costs.ACCC institutes proceedings against Thai Airways for alleged price fixing of air freight, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, 28 October 2009. Retrieved 18 May 2011Thai Airways falls foul of ACCC, Eye For Transport, 29 October 2009 . Retrieved 18 May 2011
Korean Air The ACCC instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Korean Air. The ACCC alleged that between 2001 and 2006, Korean Air entered into arrangements or understandings with other international air cargo carriers that had the purpose or effect of fixing the price of a fuel surcharge, a security surcharge and a customs fee that were applied to air cargo carried by Korean Air and other airlines. The ACCC alleged that the arrangements or understandings were reached in Korea, Indonesia and Hong Kong for surcharges applied to cargo originating in those countries and in Indonesia for a customs fee applied to cargo originating in that country. The ACCC sort declarations, injunctive relief, pecuniary penalties, and costs.ACCC institutes proceedings against Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission, 5 March 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2011Australia targets Korean, Air cargo Net, 12 March 2010 . Retrieved 18 May 2011
Malaysia Airlines