EC NARROWS AIR TRANSPORT IMMUNITY

EC NARROWS AIR TRANSPORT IMMUNITY
   The European Commission has adopted a regulation which extends antitrust
immunity for Europe’s air transport industry, but narrows the scope of the
exemption.
   The commission extended portions of the former Regulation (EEC) 1617/93, which gave immunity to airlines’ passenger tariff consultations; slot
allocation at airports; joint planning and coordination of airline
schedules; and joint operations.
   Under the revised regulation, certain categories of agreements and
concerted practices regarding passenger tariff consultations and slot
allocation at airports will continue to be exempt until June 30, 2001.
   However, the European Commission has not renewed Regulation (EEC)
1617/93 for joint planning and coordination of airline schedules and joint
operations.
   The Brussels-based regulator said that "there are hardly any such
agreements currently in force" on joint planning and scheduling and on
joint operations.