Air NZ to face court proceedings

Air New Zealand has become the 15th airline to face court proceedings alleging price fixing in the air cargo industry from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

Australia's competition watchdog initiated proceedings in the Federal Court today against Air New Zealand.

The ACCC alleges that between 2002 and 2006, Air New Zealand 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 applied to air cargo carried by them and other airlines.

The ACCC is seeking declarations, injunctive relief, pecuniary penalties, and costs.

A directions hearing has been set down for June 10 before Justice Jacobson in the Federal Court, Sydney.

Proceedings have also been instituted against Singapore Airlines Cargo Pte Ltd, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, Emirates, PT Garuda Indonesia Ltd, Thai Airways International Public Company Limited, Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd, Malaysian Airline System Berhad and its wholly-owned cargo subsidiary Malaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd and Japan Airlines International Co.

- NZPA