The European Commission called on Tuesday for public comment on measures by Air France, KLM and Delta Airlines to meet concerns about possible overcharging on key international routes.

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The European Commission called for public comment on measures by Air France, KLM and Delta Airlines to meet concerns about possible overcharging on key international routes. (Photo: AFP/Jack Guez)

BRUSSELS: The European Commission called on Tuesday (Oct 21) for public comment on measures by Air France, KLM and Delta Airlines to meet concerns about possible overcharging on key international routes.

“Extensive cooperation between Air France/KLM, Alitalia and Delta in the framework of the SkyTeam alliance … may result in higher prices,” said the Commission, which polices European Union fair competition rules. The routes cited were Paris-New York for premium passengers; and Amsterdam-New York and Rome-New York for all passengers.

To address the Commission’s competition concerns, the three airlines have submitted a series of proposals, including offering rival companies some of their flight slots on the Amsterdam-New York and Rome-New York routes. In addition, they agreed to allow competitors to “offer tickets on their flights and facilitate access to connecting traffic, as well as to provide access to their frequent flyer programmes on all three routes.”

If the public response to these measures is positive, the Commission said it could then make them legally binding on the three airlines. The Commission opened a competition probe into Air France/KLM, Alitalia and Delta in January 2012.

The three companies work together through the SkyTeam global airline alliance, one of several which dominate the industry. 

The Commission recalled that in July 2010 and May 2013 it had imposed similar commitments on the rival Oneworld and Star airline alliances.

– AFP/al