South African Airlines Blows Whistle On 2010 World Cup Price Fixing

by Tamas S. Kiss Monday, February 1st, 2010

South Africa’s Competition Office has launched a probe into the alleged price fixing collusion attempt of several airlines catering to travelers of the planned 2010 Football World Cup.

The Commission has stated investigating several national airlines and British Airways’ Comair. South African Airways (SAA), which blew the whistle on the unfair practice, has asked for leniency from the authorities.

Despite denials of any investigations by most service providers in question the competition office has named BA Comair, , One Time, Mango Airlines, OneTime Airlines, South African Airways, SA Airlink and SA Express.

The airlines are said to have agreed to increase fare prices by as much as by 200% during the peak season of the 2010 World Cup, while another probe has been launched against hotels that plan to increase their rates by as much as 400% for the same season.