US: “Lufthansa says surcharge Does not violate antitrust laws”

Following a letter from three US Senators urging Transportation Department Secretary Foxx and Attorney General Loretta Lynch to investigate the potential anti-competitive implications of comments made by Lufthansa CEO Carsten Spohron the airline group’s new Distribution Cost Charge (DCC), the airline group has released a statement arguing that the comments do not violate US antitrust laws.

In a statement provided to tnooz, an official from Lufthansa Group (LHG) said that the remarks came as part of a panel with an industry moderator from CNN.

“Humorous remarks were made by the moderator and general comments were made by the panelists and a known banter was exchanged among them,” the statement to tnooz read.

Additionally, the airline group told tnooz that the new charge was announced publicly one week prior to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) meeting, which took place June 8, 2015, and that the US Department of Transportation had already reviewed the events at the meeting, concluding that no antitrust violation occurred.

Full Content: International Meetings Review

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.