OREANDA-NEWS. On June 16, 2009 the 9th Arbitration Appeal Court dismissed the claim of "Saratov Airlines" OJSC and confirmed validity of the decision and determination issued by the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Earlier, FAS Russia received a petition of "TSENTR-AVIA" Airlines" OJSC that "Saratov Airlines" OJSC violated the antimonopoly legislation.

"Saratov Airlines" OJSC is involved in airport handling of aircrafts in Saratov airport and is the only air carrier providing air transportation services of on the Moscow - Saratov - Moscow route. During a long period of time, "Saratov Airlines" OJSC refused to accommodate the request of "TSENTR-AVIA" Airlines" OJSC for slots (the time intervals for aircraft arrival and departure) to enable regular flights on the Moscow - Saratov - Moscow route.

Having investigated the antimonopoly case, on 22nd September 2008 FAS Russia pronounced that "Saratov Airlines" OJSC violated Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" by refusing to accommodate the request of "TSENTR-AVIA" Airlines" OJSC for the slots enabling regular air passenger transportation on the Moscow - Saratov - Moscow route in the "Winter 2007" season, which infringed the interests of "TSENTR-AVIA" Airlines" OJSC.

Based on its decision, FAS Russia issued a determination to "Saratov Airlines" OJSC requesting the company to stop violating the antimonopoly legislation and to agree with "TSENTR-AVIA" Airlines" OJSC upon the slots requested by the company or close to them.

"Saratov Airlines" OJSC filed a claim to the Moscow Arbitration Court and later to the Appeal Instance. The Courts, however, confirmed the rightness of the Antimonopoly Service.