OREANDA-NEWS. December 25, 2012. On 14th December 2012, the Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Moscow Region (Moscow Regional OFAS Russia) found that “Sheremetyevo International Airport” OJSC (“MASh” OJSC) and “Aeroflot – Russian Airlines” OJSC violated the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” (Part 4 Article 11).


Some provisions of the Agreement on strategic partnership between the above entities can restrict competition on the market of air transportation services. It creates conditions putting air carriers in an unequal position with regard to each other for using the infrastructure of Sheremetyevo international airport.

The grounds for initiating the case: the outcome of an unscheduled inspection of “MASh” OJSC, carried out following reports in mass media about “Sheremetyevo International Airport” OJSC (“MASh” OJSC) and “Aeroflot – Russian Airlines” OJSC signing the Agreement on strategic partnership to the prejudice of other airlines.

Investigating the case and making the decision, Moscow Regional OFAS Russia also took into account opinions of air carriers that use the infrastructure of Sheremetyevo airport. The air carriers stated that their interests could be infringed by granting preferences to certain airlines, which can prevent developing a healthy competitive environment.

“The Commission’s decision is aimed at developing competitive environment on the market of air transportation services by ensuring equal (non-discriminatory) access to the infrastructure of Sheremetyevo airport”, stated the Head of Moscow Regional OFAS Russia, Igor Bashlakov – Nikolayev.

“MASh” OJSC and “Aeroflot – Russian Airlines” OJSC will be issued a determination to stop violating the antimonopoly law. The determination will include conduct conditions, the execution period – one month.

At the same time on the basis of the case materials Moscow Regional OFAS Russia shall held the companies and their officials administratively liable under Article 14.32 of the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Violations.

Article 14.32. If an economic entity enters into an agreement prohibited by the antimonopoly law of the Russian Federation, or took part in such an agreement, or if an economic entity exercises concerted actions prohibited by the antimonopoly law of the Russian Federation, it is administratively punishable: upon executives – from 20,000 to 50,000 Rubles, or disqualification for a period of up to three years; for legal entities – from one hundredths to fifteen hundredths of the income of the violator from selling goods (works, services) on the market, where the administrative offence was committed, or from one tenth to one second of the initial value of the subject of an auction, but no less than 100,000 Rubles, and if the income of the violator from selling goods (works, services) on the market, where the administrative offence was committed, exceeds 75% of the total income of the violator from selling all goods(works, services), or an administrative violator is committed on the market of goods (works, services) sold under the prices (tariffs) regulated in accordance with the law of the Russian Federation – from three thousandths to three hundredths of the income of the violator from selling goods (works, services) on the market where the administrative offence was committed, but no less than 100,000 Rubles.