OREANDA-NEWS. October 21, 2009. "Koltsovo" airport unreasonably evaded signing contracts for ground and airport handling of aircrafts in the airport of Yekaterinburg,- ruled the Federal Arbitration Court of the Moscow District, confirming validity of the decision made by the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

On 19th September 2008, FAS Russia found that "Koltsovo" Airport" OJSC violated Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition" (which prohibits abusing dominant position). "Koltsovo" Airport" OJSC unreasonably evaded signing contracts for ground and airport handling of the carrier's aircrafts in the airport of Yekaterinburg.

"Koltsovo" Airport" OJSC is a natural monopoly, which dominates the market of airport services in the airport of Yekaterinburg. By unreasonably evading contracts with air carriers for ground servicing of their aircrafts, "Koltsovo" Airport" OJSC violated the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition", as it infringed the interests of air carriers and restricted competition on the market of air passenger transportation.

As "Koltsovo" Airport" OJSC voluntarily eliminated the violations, FAS Russia did not issue a determination and simply pronounced the fact of violating the antimonopoly law by the company.

"Koltsovo" Airport" OJSC appealed the decision to the Moscow Arbitration Court am later to the Appeal Court and Cassation Court, which all confirmed validity of the decision taken by the antimonopoly authority.

Reference:
- On 13th November 2008, FAS Russia found that "Yakutsk" Airport" State Unitary Enterprise violated Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition". The airport refused to agree upon the slots (time intervals for aircrafts landing and take-off with "Interavia" Ltd. for the regular flights on the Moscow-Yakutsk-Moscow route. Also the airport refused to enter into contracts with the air carrier for ground handling of its aircrafts in the airport of Yakutsk for the regular flights on the Moscow-Yakutsk-Moscow route.

- In 2008 FAS Russia processed a case against "Saratov Airlines" OJSC for the violating Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition". "Saratov Airlines" OJSC violated the law by refusing to agree with "Centre-Аvia" Airlines" OJSC upon the slots for regular passenger flights on the Moscow-Saratov-Moscow route in the "Winter 2007" season. FAS Russia issued a determination to eliminate the violation.

-In 2008, FAS Russia found that "КDavia" OJSC violated Clause 5 Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition". Without any technological or economic reasons, the company evaded a contract with "Siberia Airlines" OJSC for ground handling of its aircrafts, passengers, cargo, mail, luggage, catering, and cleaning up the aircrafts in the airport of Kaliningrad ("Khrabrovo").

- In 2009 FAS Russia found that "Kavminvodyavia" Federal State Unitary Aviation Enterprise violated Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law "On Protection of Competition". It refused to agree with "UTair" Airlines" OJSC upon the slots for regular passenger flights on the Moscow - Mineralnie Vody - Moscow route in the "Winter 2007" and "Summer 2009" seasons. FAS Russia did not issue a determination due to voluntary elimination of the violation.