British Airways is facing a double dose of action under European legislation from two of its UK rivals.
In a case due before the UK High Court in mid-April, Air UK is suing BA for planning four daily services between London/Gatwick and Edinburgh. Air UK refuses to comment but a legal source says the case revolves around the belief that BA is abusing its dominant position: Air UK currently operates five daily frequencies on the route. 'Air UK seems to think that competition is illegal,' comments BA.
The decision by Air UK to pursue its case in domestic courts under European competition law instead of turning to the European Commission is believed to be the first such action in Europe. The legal source suggests the move reflects the court's ability to impose damages.
British Mediterranean Airways is waiting for a Brussels ruling on a complaint it made in February against BA under CRS rules. The single A320 operator, which is still embroiled in a battle with BA over frequencies on the London-Beirut route, complained that BA was listing four weekly flights to Beirut in its internal reservation system, when it only has two, against BMA's five. Further, BA was showing three weekly frequencies instead of two on the Damascus route, where it also competes with BMA.
BA accepted there 'had been a mistake on Damascus' before BMA made the complaint but said it had been corrected. It denied any wrongdoing on Beirut, but when asked why its new timetable still listed four weekly Beirut services, BA replied: 'We can only apologise for what is a genuine error as we would not try to mislead.'
Mark Odell
Source: Airline Business
