OREANDA-NEWS. October 27, 2010. The Office of the Federal Antimonopoly Service in the Voronezh region (OFAS Russia) initiated a case against “Voronezhavia” Air Carrier” OJSC for the signs of violating Clauses 8 and 9 Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” (abusing market dominance), reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

On 7th September 2010, Voronezh OFAS Russia received a petition of the “Tsentr Realizatsii Perevozok i Uslug” Ltd., a representative of “UTair” Air Carrier” OJSC. The petitioner stated that “Voronezhavia” Air Carrier” OJSC had prevented entry to the market of flight handling and created discriminatory market conditions.

According to the petitioner, on 24th August 2010 the airport confiscated passes to restricted airport area from the members of staff who were handing the flights of “UTair” Air Carrier” OJSC. The airport explained such actions by tightening counter-measures against unlawful interference in the field of aviation.

At the same time, the airport did not confiscate passes from the members of staff of “Polyot” Air Carrier” OJSC.

“Voronezhavia” Air Carrier” OJSC is included in the Register of economic entities with over 35% share on the market of particular goods and has dominant posittion on the market of airport services.

Clauses 8 and 9 Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” prohibit actions (omissions) of an economic entity with dominant market position towards creating discriminatory conditions and preventing entry of other economic entities to the market.

“Voronezhavia” Air Carrier” OJSC is a natural monopoly and has dominant position on the market for airport services, can exercise decisive influence upon general conditions of goods circulation on the market for aircraft handling in Voronezh.

Thus actions of “Voronezhavia” Air Carrier” OJSC for preventing entry of “Tsentr Realizatsii Perevozok i Uslug” Ltd. to the market of flights handing in Voronezh and creating discriminatory conditions by unreasonably confiscating passes to the restricted airport area from members of staff of “Tsentr Realizatsii Perevozok i Uslug” Ltd. have the signs of violating Clauses 8 and 9 Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition”.