Malaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd penalised $6 million for price fixing cartel

"This penalty sees the total penalties ordered against this international cartel increase to a record $58 million. These penalties are the highest generated by a single ACCC Investigation," ACCC Chairman Rod Sims said.

The ACCC has been pursuing a number of international airlines for cartel conduct relating to the carriage of air freight. Malaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd is the ninth airline to settle proceedings against it.

"The ACCC's focus on stopping cartel conduct has sent a strong message. It is crucial for the proper functioning of business in Australia that the ACCC continues to tackle cartel conduct with the full force of the law. Cartel conduct is damaging and unlawful because it harms competition and usually inflates prices for consumers," Mr Sims said.

The ACCC instituted proceedings against Malaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd on 9 April 2010, alleging that it reached and gave effect to understandings with other international airlines regarding the level of particular surcharges and fees relating to air freight carriage from Indonesia. Malaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd has admitted that it did so in relation to:

• fuel surcharges between April 2002 and September 2005
• security surcharges between October 2001 and October 2005, and
• customs fees between May 2004 and October 2005.

Justice Emmett also made orders restraining Malaysia Airlines Cargo Sdn Bhd from engaging in similar conduct for a period of five years and to pay $500,000 towards the ACCC's costs.

The ACCC's proceedings against Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Emirates, Air New Zealand and Thai Airways International continue. Proceedings against Garuda Indonesia are stayed pending the outcome of an appeal to the High Court.

Cartel conduct includes:

• price fixing
• output restrictions
• allocating customers, suppliers or territories
• bid-rigging.