Aircraft

Scandinavia’s SAS Group has received a European Commission statement of objections alleging infringements of competition law within the air cargo sector.

Last year the European Commission and US regulators opened a wide-ranging investigation into alleged cartel activity by several companies, including SAS Cargo, in the air freight industry.

SAS Group is deferring detailed comment until it has examined the EC statement in detail and been granted the chance to review related documentation in the EC’s investigation files. It plans to provide a statement on the issue, and its possible effects, no later than February.

But chief executive Mats Jansson says: “Infringement of competition rules is entirely unacceptable and we condemn it unreservedly.

“SAS has, for many years, had a strict policy in place for compliance with competition rules as well as various control mechanisms. It is very unfortunate and a serious problem if our policy has not been respected by all employees of SAS Cargo.

“If infringements have occurred I will do my utmost to ensure that this will not occur again.”

SAS Group is to send the EC a formal written response to the allegations. It says it cannot prejudge the outcome of the inquiry or predict the possible financial impact on the company, and the EC’s conclusions are not expected before late next year.

But Jansson adds: “Although we do not know the final outcome in this matter, we have already taken steps and measures to ensure that all of our employees are aware of the importance of complying with our policy.

“We will also reinforce our ongoing work on compliance with competition rules in all parts of the Group through extra training for our staff and by introducing more control mechanisms.”

Source: flightglobal.com's sister premium news service Air Transport Intelligence news