ATW Daily News

Dutch authority rejects easyJet's AMS complaint

Tuesday July 21, 2009

Netherlands Competition Authority rejected a complaint by easyJet that the difference in tariffs at Amsterdam Schiphol between origin/destination and transfer passengers is discriminatory and puts the LCC at a competitive disadvantage. "After an extensive investigation under the Dutch Aviation Act, no evidence has been found to support the assertion that Amsterdam Airport Schiphol discriminates by charging higher tariffs for passengers that start their journey at Schiphol than for passengers that transfer at the airport," NMa stated, noting that the Act allows for different tariffs for different passenger types as long as competition is not impeded.

The authority pointed out that easyJet has chosen to focus solely on O&D traffic at AMS and other airports. "Having such a business model has its advantages as well as its disadvantages. Schiphol cannot be held accountable for easyJet's own choice," it said. It also dismissed the LCC's complaint that the system lacks transparency because the airport operator does not offer airlines insight into the underlying costs of each tariff. "Under the Aviation Act, Schiphol is not required to disclose the makeup of every single tariff," NMa said. EasyJet simultaneously filed a second, separate complaint under the Competition Act asserting that Schiphol abuses its dominant position. "Taking into account the results of the investigation under the Aviation Act, the NMa is currently contemplating how it will handle this second complaint," the authority said.

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