NYT: Airlines Face Investigation for Price Fixing

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/22/bu...22cnd-air.html

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British and American regulators are investigating major airlines that operate long-distance flights to and from Britain, suspecting that they may have illegally conspired to fix the amounts of fuel surcharges they impose on passengers.
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The United States Department of Justice and Britain's Office of Fair Trade have contacted British Airways, Virgin Atlantic Airways, United Airways, American Airlines and possibly other airlines in connection with the investigation, which could lead to criminal charges, civil penalties or both.
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Many airlines have struggled to make profits in recent years because of high oil prices, and have been trying to recoup by adding fuel surcharges to passenger ticket prices. The cost of jet fuel has risen by 21 percent in the past year, according to figures the International Air Transport Association released on June 16. So far in 2006, airlines spent $22 billion more on fuel than in the same period last year, the organization said.

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