Investigation of air-cargo industry

[Savipix]

Investigation of air-cargo industry

Acting on a decision by the EU Commission, an unannounced inspection was
carried out today at a number of air-cargo carriers in Europe, including
SAS Cargo in Copenhagen. According to the Commission, the background is
that it wants to investigate whether any form of prohibited cooperation
has occurred in the air-cargo industry for the purpose of restricting
competition.

According to the EU Commission, cooperation has involved routes within
Europe as well as to countries outside the European Union. The alleged
competition limiting cooperation has supposedly been carried out since
2000 and mainly involved agreements regarding certain surcharges to
offset external cost increases, such as fuel surcharges, costs for
additional security measures (after the attack in the US in September
2001) and surcharges for war-risk insurance premiums (applied in
conjunction with the outbreak of war in Iraq in 2003).

Currently, SAS Cargo sees no reason to suspect any violations.

Group Management at SAS views any form of competition violation very
seriously and will ensure open and full cooperation with the EU
Commission to determine if SAS Cargo has had any involvement in this
context.

For further information, please contact
Hans Ollongren, Senior Vice President, SAS Group, +46 8 797 1950
Kenneth Marx, President & CEO, SAS Cargo Group A/S, +45 323 24748


SAS Group Corporate Communications