A GLOBAL probe into possible price-fixing in the air cargo industry is spreading its wings. It started with searches by the European Union (EU) executive arm and the US justice department into some leading airlines’ cargo operations in Europe and the States. Other airlines were asked for information related to the probe. It subsequently widened to Asia as authorities searched for information at offices of Japanese, South Korean and Hong Kong airlines. The alleged activity mainly involved various surcharges for fuel and for security measures imposed after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US. According to Shipping Gazette, the airlines involved include JAL, Cathay Pacific, BA, Lufthansa, Asiana Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Nippon Cargo Airlines Co, all of whom have confirmed they had either been visited or contacted by various regulators or court officials.
