commiss decis februari relat procedur pursuant articl eec treati iv british midland aer lingu english text authent eec commiss european commun regard treati establish european econom commun regard council regul eec decemb lai procedur applic rule competit undertak air transport sector regard complaint lodg british midland airwai limit april aer lingu plc regard commiss decis june initi proceed case undertak concern opportun make view object rais commiss pursuant articl regul eec read conjunct commiss regul eec decemb complaint applic hear provid council regul eec consult advisori committe agreement domin posit air transport fact parti aer lingu nation airlin ireland oper fleet jet short medium haul servic turboprop aircraft carri million schedul revenu passeng million european servic perform excess billion revenu passeng kilomet billion european servic emploi worker total revenu air transport amount million total turnov excess billion net profit million compar million british midland main oper compani airlin britain hold plc belong sa oper fleet jet aircraft servic unit kingdom neighbour member state emploi worker carri million passeng total revenu exceed million compani lost million british midland fastest grow european airlin refus interlin interlin hail iata major achiev essenti consist agreement multilater interlin traffic agreement mita defin iata resolut pursuant airlin author sell servic result singl ticket issu compris segment perform airlin applic tariff condit parti rout passeng carri airlin issu ticket collect price segment passeng issu airlin pai fare due carri airlin interlin servic charg compens expens incur sell handl servic process interlin traffic iata clear hous order parti mita interest airlin necessarili iata member make applic iata circul particip airlin tradition agreement concurr applic refus except currenc convert financi stabil applic assur case airlin conclud specif agreement provid unilater interlin applic accept flag carrier author issu ticket behalf vice versa interlin system benefit particip vast major world airlin account approxim schedul traffic addit airlin accept chang ticket passeng request technic relat voluntari interlin govern iata resolut voluntari ticket oper conjunct interlin carrier make chang issu carrier carrier design carrier segment concern endors requir issu design carrier airlin agre waiv requir endors main advantag multilater interlin voluntari chang system jointli refer purpos decis interlin system passeng bui singl ticket provid transport carrier leav issu airlin return airlin serv rout leav issu airlin continu destin serv airlin passeng easili chang reserv rout airlin mention ticket airlin interlin system enabl complement network frequenc lose passeng airlin result interlin expect win airlin interlin system signific part worldwid air transport estim approxim passeng intra commun flight interlin facil depend airlin issu ticket half passeng hold ticket enabl chang flight oper airlin practic airlin personnel insist complianc interlin waiver endors agreement travel agent issu ticket travel airlin proper author aris interlin agreement carri airlin personnel accept ticket bill issu airlin bill complic uneconom carri airlin renounc bill assumpt issu airlin similar claim carri airlin likewis airlin employe airport accept voluntari made ticket insist endors issu design carrier flexibl exist practic margin limit us inconveni personnel passeng satisfactori substitut actual agreement interlin absenc agreement interlin handicap airlin suffer busi travel travel expens unrestrict fare typic gener airlin revenu passeng servic make trip combin destin airlin chang travel plan minim constraint highli conveni flexibl offer singl interlin ticket purchas separ ticket flight return unus chang plan addit travel agent issu ticket airlin paper flight ticket oper airlin refus interlin airlin prevent travel agent issu ticket outward journei british midland return journei aer lingu agent prefer avoid loss time extra work involv issu separ ticket addit passeng hold interlin ticket return unus chang plan bui ticket case travel agent lose commiss aer lingu concur british midland particip mita award oper london heathrow dublin servic british midland announc februari intent commenc servic rout april april aer lingu gave notic termin concurr british midland particip mita effect aer lingu accept interchang british midland ticket london heathrow dublin rout british midland interlin british airwai withdraw rout end march aer lingu cancel interlin agreement airlin oper rout british airwai statement press issu time aer lingu declar establish domin carrier rout capit intend remain british midland resourc offer similar frequenc servic provid product interlin agreement airlin world april tariff consult februari aer lingu attend special composit meet cargo passeng tariff coordin confer organ iata geneva open confer aer lingu repres state compani particip consult rout dublin amsterdam london pari confer proceed discuss continu except fare increas iata resolut ww mm discuss iata special confer august octob discuss cover transport worldwid includ intra commun transport conclus confer file extens exist resolut notwithstand aer lingu statement part confer discuss final vote market concern provis air transport british midland march announc intent start london heathrow dublin servic aer lingu british airwai present rout time aer lingu account approxim passeng carri biritsh airwai year british midland entri rout obtain averag market share aer lingu british airwai lost seventh market share averag year entri british midland market share grew aer lingu remain fairli stabl british airwai decreas british airwai termin london heathrow dublin servic march time british airwai conclud market agreement aer lingu aer lingu expect enabl captur passeng annual market volum period april june aer lingu recov initi share passeng carri middl uk irish author airlin aer lingu british airwai british midland oper schedul servic london heathrow dublin number servic oper dublin london airport heathrow time refus interlin aer lingu dan air oper dublin london gatwick servic aer lingu share traffic maintain interlin agreement dan air dan air withdrew april aer lingu sole airlin rout time refus interlin aer lingu oper servic dublin london stanst time servic transfer ryan air sole airlin rout servic dublin luton oper month capit middl ryan air present time servic provid total annual number passeng travel air london airport hand dublin hand million rang recent year grew annual pass heathrow luton gatwick stanst aer lingu share london dublin traffic time refus interlin amount decreas estim back aer lingu british airwai oper high load factor rout compar averag european network airlin industri load factor earli decreas high british midland rang busiest time aer lingu oper daili return servic london heathrow dublin british midland admiss aer lingu incur heavi loss servic ii sale air transport airlin share passeng carri london heathrow dublin rout correspond close share ticket sale unit kingdom ireland airlin tend stronger posit home market market sale made busi travel bought ticket higher unrestrict fare tariff appli british airwai aer lingu signific number except british midland dublin london heathrow gatwick servic essenti ident ryan air appli significantli lower tariff dublin london stanst luton rout ii legal assess articl domin posit relev market aer lingu conduct effect market provis sale air transport dublin london heathrow characterist surfac transport speed conveni transport mean rout suffici preclud substitut demand travel travel price consciou leisur travel surfac transport air transport lowest restrict face interchang suppli air transport fare limit travel afford spend dai travel dublin london interest slow surfac transport air travel restrict condit view mode transport substitut consider specif demand fast flexibl conveni travel citi met air transport travel pai price significantli higher price surfac transport evid avail surfac transport lower price act constraint market air travel higher fare precis travel possibl interlin import air travel dublin london airport heathrow substitut travel heathrow larg number travel busi travel tradition prefer heathrow reason london airport serv frequent heathrow offer similar rang connect suit onward travel london addit consid time sale made passeng select airport area london heathrow refus aer lingu accept british midland book affect passeng hold ticket transport london heathrow dublin chang airport imposs car park heathrow inconveni chang arrang time reach final destin event includ london airport heathrow relev product market reduc aer lingu market share point domin exclud suppli substitut limit middl airlin author oper schedul servic london heathrow dublin addit heathrow airport notori congest slot obtain oper servic dublin opportun cost high purpos assess effect refus interlin sale airlin ticket uk ireland separ geograph market distribut air transport servic organ nation level travel agent oper essenti condit nation level airlin organ market depart nation level fare quot local currenc promot fare discount condit restrict countri crossbord sale rare occur airlin tend resist ticket process iata bank settlement plan organ nation basi distribut market share rout group determin countri countri basi flag carrier high share home countri lower share countri present case signific price differ fare ireland uk vari level appli member state distribut market share vari consider aer lingu share sale london heathrow dublin servic uk quarter share home market market share achiev uk airlin ireland third share home market commiss assess abus market provis london heathrow dublin air transport sale london heathrow dublin air transport ireland uk ii substanti part common market london heathrow dublin servic busiest commun number passeng rout amount approxim million annual signific volum travel affect refus interlin uk ireland substanti part common market volum sale dublin london heathrow servic countri signific ecu million rang annual iii domin aer lingu enjoi market share unusu high oligopolist industri air transport share passeng carri london heathrow dublin servic time refus interlin amount subsequ decreas rang british airwai exit rout march recov exce british airwai market share point captur aer lingu includ london airport materi impact aer lingu market share share ticket sale correspond close share passeng carri geograph market exceed commiss possess data market share british airwai exit rout fact aer lingu share traffic london heathrow dublin increas significantli impli share sale increas similar proport addit uk irish polici effect middl airlin aer lingu british midland british airwai author oper fourth freedom servic london heathrow dublin freedom servic heathrow notori congest airport demand slot consider exce suppli airlin oper heathrow tend slot servic make largest contribut profit heathrow slot addit servic dublin rout serv present profit case impli high opportun cost servic london airport import heathrow busi travel connect passeng competit aris servic limit impact servic heathrow event includ airport leav aer lingu high third market high share relev market enjoi aer lingu presenc barrier entri rout concern indic domin aer lingu nation irish airlin prefer choic passeng rout irish nation aer lingu extens network ireland account larg share air transport countri posit commerci power local market smaller foreign base airlin possess mere fact aer lingu disregard complaint travel agent busi travel suffer refus interlin suggest aer lingu enjoi consider freedom action british midland announc intent commenc oper london heathrow dublin rout aer lingu measur improv servic align fare categori british midland action limit aer lingu confin reaction essenti match british midland leisur type fare importantli aer lingu action essenti anticip british midland arriv initi period prepar event aer lingu reaction attenu british midland obtain signific market share year entri rout presenc negat evid domin aer lingu aer lingu maintain increas absolut number passeng carri rout share passeng carri sale rel airlin rout decreas british midland entri fairli small margin recov british airwai exit british midland success appear due larg extent abil benefit signific growth number passeng rout provid extra capac time demand aer lingu appreci freedom action aer lingu expos amount competit competit successfulli low cost abus abus conduct defin practic affect structur market result presenc undertak question competit weaken recours method differ govern normal competit good servic base trader perform effect hinder mainten develop level competit exist market judgment court justic februari case hoffmann la roch commiss ecr refus interlin normal competit merit interlin year accept industri practic wide acknowledg benefit airlin passeng refus interlin reason problem currenc convert doubt creditworthi beneficiari airlin highli unusu step consid european airlin industri normal competit strategi aer lingu maintain interlin agreement airlin compet london dublin servic british airwai dan air aer lingu argu interlin circumst benefici particip airlin suffer interlin british midland lose point market share entrant demonstr argument interlin result loss revenu make refus legitim aer lingu argu interlin british midland signific effect cost evid refus interlin impos signific handicap british midland refus grant interlin facil withdraw exist interlin facil depend circumst hinder mainten develop competit duti interlin aris depend effect competit refus interlin exist refus withdraw interlin facil domin airlin object signific impact airlin abil start servic sustain exist servic account effect airlin cost revenu respect servic question domin airlin give object commerci reason refus concern creditworthi avoid help competitor justif domin airlin singl airlin previous interlin airlin start compet import rout continu interlin competitor airlin commenc servic expect incur loss initi period organ econom oper servic attract suffici interest travel trade travel expet attain load factor revenu ensur profit oper begin servic entri difficult deni interlin facil increas difficulti entrant interlin facil consid respect rate airlin travel agent travel alik make difficult attain commerci stand requir oper profit travel agent avoid loss time extra work potenti loss revenu caus issu ticket transort airlin interlin facil signific number passeng possibl chang ticket organ complex journei singl ticket refus interlin effect divert passeng entrant airlin respect refus interlin affect inform busi travel requir fulli flexibl ticket make disproportion larg contribut revenu entrant significantli reduc revenu effect econom entrant oper review british midland perform dublin london heathrow rout confirm effect case signific british midland load factor appreci lower aer lingu rout differ larg extent reflect british midland handicap carri interlin passeng impli passeng wish make interlin facil london heathrow dublin servic unabl aer lingu refus interlin british midland prefer plai safe servic airlin highest frequenc aer lingu result loss revenu british midland estim million ecu year refus interlin hinder mainten develop competit impos signific cost competitor incumb airlin oper high frequenc rout account larg share capac refus interlin entrant rout choic start low frequenc servic order minim initi loss face long unprofit start period altern entrant oper high frequenc begin warrant initi market share attract busi travel requir high frequenc order organ journei maximum flexibl situat entrant face higher start cost present case british midland reason confront aer lingu oper low frequenc releg role airlin minor import hope attract busi travel improv revenu servic result british midland develop strong competitor interest continu servic dublin make heathrow slot true aer lingu strategi event result british midland departur rout british midland succeed build reason schedul obtain signific market share true refus interlin preclud british midland attract busi travel notwithstand refus interlin aer lingu british midland passeng dublin london heathrow servic chang ticket reason number flight oper british midland british airwai airlin withdrew rout addit british midland carri passeng travel ticket issu airlin aer lingu british airwai airlin withdrew rout countri airlin carri passeng london continu dublin british midland aer lingu continu accept interlin british midland incur lower cost earn higher revenu servic attract passeng stronger success competitor fact british midland continu oper notwithstand handicap impos aer lingu due place british midland determin succe face unusu difficulti refus effect competit doubt time practic implement refus interlin intend hinder develop competit law refus time occur depend competitor remain rout spite disadvantag impos aer lingu pursu strategi wholli effect select exclusionari restrict develop competit london heathrow dublin rout refus interlin case essenti consist imposit contrari normal industri practic signific handicap competitor rais cost depriv revenu aer lingu point effici creat refus interlin advanc persuas legitim busi justif conduct desir avoid loss market share circumst rout vital import compani oper margin pressur make legitim respons entri effect trade member state refus interlin concern airlin member state relat air transport servic consider import state affect possibl travel commun benefit interlin prevent travel agent issu interlin ticket effect refus interlin confin singl member state affect trade member state conclus commiss consid withdraw aer lingu british midland author issu complet transport document carriag london heathrow dublin accord aer lingu tariff applic provis laid iata resolut ii effect transport document accord gener applic procedur laid iata resolut constitut infring articl articl special composit meet cargo passeng tariff coordin confer organ iata februari attach airliln world includ aer lingu flag carrier member state agenda meet review latest develop oper cost object meet resubmit agreement govern respect passeng fare cargo rate base recent situat exchang inform airlin cost tariff object view prepar common posit passeng fare cargo rate constitut agreement concert practic undertak coordin price decis tariff consult restrict competit contempl articl cover air transport member state affect trade member state tariff consult caught articl air carrier author hold tariff consult condit set articl group exempt laid commiss regul eec enter forc februari regul commiss view consult passeng cargo tariff contribut gener accept interlin fare rate benefit air carrier air transport user consult exce law purpos facilit interlin air carrier particip consult mechan oblig interlin carrier concern articl regul provis oblig particip passeng cargo consult interlin respect commun network carrier oper appli oper direct indirect servic rout concern consult aer lingu present consult earli februari state begin meet particip consult rout dublin amsterdam london pari statement intend protect aer lingu interlin rout exclud discuss carrier oper servic air franc british airwai british midland make reserv aer lingu physic withdraw meet event specif discuss rout gener discuss tariff concern rout rout aer lingu express view rout specif learn competitor intent gener respect rout aer lingu heard aer lingu contribut gener discuss particip vote appli cent increas european rout conclus confer appli rout refer aer lingu statement impact ident attend vote content outcom consult rout exclud aer lingu cover consult addit accept rout dublin amsterdam london pari consult aer lingu present suffici avoid duti interlin british midland tariff consult concern rout dublin destin serv directli aer lingu indirectli british midland chang aircraft london heathrow birmingham east midland chang aircraft airport london channel island brussel british midland appli oper destin respect aer lingu made reserv london heathrow brussel copenhagen dusseldorf frankfurt malaga milan palma rome dublin london heathrow servic enabl compani offer indirect servic dublin destin aer lingu respect condit articl regul eec commiss consid aer lingu particip tariff consult februari grant british midland author issu complet transport document carriag commun network accord aer lingu tariff applic provis laid iata resolut ii effect transport document carriag commun network accord gener applic procedur laid iata resolut constitut infring articl aer lingu attend tariff consult septemb discuss tariff effect april articl council regul eec light consider set commiss consid ground find aer lingu infring articl pursuant articl regul eec commiss impos fine ecu sum excess thereof exceed turnov preced busi year undertak particip infring intention neglig infring articl articl treati fix amount fine regard graviti durat infring commiss consid aer lingu infring articl particip tariff consult respect condit set regul eec infring place februari effect continu fare discuss tariff consul effect april commiss consid aer lingu infring articl withdraw british midland author issu complet transport document carriag dublin london heathrow accord aer lingu tariff applic provis laid iata resolut ii effect transport document accord gener applic procedur laid iata resolut infring last april present date commiss consid imposit fine aer lingu justifi infring relat articl view fact regul eec enter forc infring relat articl commit commiss impos fine account parallel violat articl fix amount fine take account fact aer lingu conduct intend affect structur competit penal competitor enter import market commiss consid aer lingu conduct succeed elimin british midland competitor london heathrow dublin rout doubt british midland enjoi consider success oper aer lingu continu interlin articl regul eec refus interlin aer lingu present time depriv british midland opportun compet aer lingu equal foot suffer signific handicap commiss requir aer lingu bring refus interlin end order aer lingu grant british midland author interlin month date decis notifi order requir aer lingu enter arrang give british midland possibl interlin respect london heathrow dublin rout refrain conduct refus reserv confirm accept interlin partner obstacl normal implement arrang commiss accept aer lingu oblig interlin perman british midland rout domin airlin develop high frequenc legitim competit advantag necessarili share rival entrant reli forev competitor frequenc network encourag build extens network high frequenc gain commerci stand order attract suffici interest travel agent passeng commiss consid duti interlin limit time durat british midland develop servic suffer undu handicap impos domin competitor contrari industri competitor normal practic present case number obstacl make difficult british midland establish rout aer lingu enjoi consider commerci strength home countri account high share passeng frequenc compar british midland scarciti slot heathrow british midland increas frequenc dublin servic rapidli lower frequenc servic british midland obtain compar posit aer lingu oper high frequenc servic london heathrow dublin suffici time build commerci strength adequ schedul commiss consid duti aer lingu subject make reason light circumst occur duti interlin impos year period circumst market chang substanti period commiss reconsid order light market condit prevail expiri period british midland effort establish obstacl encount commiss duti extend adopt decis articl aer lingu plc infring articl eec treati withdraw british midland author issu complet transport document carriag dublin london heathrow accord aer lingu tariff applic provis laid iata resolut ii effect transport document accord gener applic procedur laid iata resolut aer lingu plc infring articl eec treati particip tariff consult februari grant british midland airwai limit author issu complet transport document carriag commun network accord aer lingu tariff applic provis laid iata resolut ii effect transport document carriag commun network accord gener applic procedur laid iata resolut articl aer lingu plc month date decis notifi put end infring establish articl year date grant british midland airwai limit author issu complet transport document carriag dublin london heathrow accord tariff applic provis laid iata resolut ii effect transport document accord gener applic procedur laid iata resolut aer lingu notifi commiss measur take order compli order articl infring establish articl fine ecu impos aer lingu plc fine paid month date notif decis account banqu bruxel lambert agenc européenn rond point schuman bruxel expiri period interest automat payabl rate charg european monetari cooper fund ecu oper work dai month decis adopt percentag point payment made nation currenc member state bank nomin payment situat exchang rate applic prevail dai preced payment articl decis address aer lingu plc dublin airport dublin ireland decis enforc pursuant articl eec treati brussel februari commiss leon brittan vice presid oj oj passeng carri continu london dublin exclud connect passeng order isol true origin destin passeng significantli chang respect share airlin oj statement statement commiss repres explain condit impos regul eec confirm carrier wish accept oblig interlin present consult oj