OREANDA-NEWS. September 20, 2011. The 18th Arbitration Appeal Court pronounced legitimacy of the decision and determination of Chelyabinsk OFAS Russia on fining “Chelyabinsk Airlines” OJSC 138,500 RUB, reported the press-centre of FAS Russia.

Chelyabinsk OFAS Russia revealed that “Chelyabinsk Airlines” OJSC fixed and imposed economically unjustified prices for the services of a fee-basis parking facilities in Chelyabinsk airport and was imposing these prices upon consumers. The first 24 hours of parking in the area controlled by “Chelyabinsk Airlines” OJSC cost 1450 Rubles. For the first five hours billing is per half-hour: 50 Rubles per each 30 minutes; the remaining period of the first 24 hours — hourly billing - 50 Rubles per hour. After the first 24 hours the fee per day is 200 Rubles. Free parking time is 15 minutes.

Also the time of car parking in the paid parking area is rounded up to the higher side. Members of staff duplicate the functions of an expensive automated parking system. The bill acceptor installed in the parking area does not have a coin unit so it is not possible to make payments with coins or receive change. The parking fee also includes the costs that are not related to the parking services – legal assistance.

Chelyabinsk airport has a free parking area for 136 cars. However, there are no crosswalks with proper facilities connecting the free parking with sidewalks along the front of the hotel and the road.

Chelyabinsk OFAS Russia found that “Chelyabinsk Airlines” OJSC violated Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” and issued a determination to stop antimonopoly violation.

“Chelyabinsk Airlines” OJSC filed a lawsuit challenging the decision of the antimonopoly body.

The Court of First Instance and Appeal Court confirmed legitimacy of the decision, determination and order issued by Chelyabinsk OFAS Russia.

“Chelyabinsk Airlines” OJSC is the only organisation that provides car parking services in the area in front of the airport passenger terminal. Free parking is not an alternative to the parking located on the square in front of the airport passenger terminal. Therefore, consumers do not have a choice regarding protected car parking equipped with barriers and gates within 300 m radius from the entrance to Chelyabinsk airport”, commented the Head of Chelyabinsk OFAS Russia, Ms. Anna Kozlova.

Reference:

Part 1 Article 10 of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” prohibits actions (omission) of economic entities that have dominant position on the market, that have resulted or can result in preventing, restricting, eliminating competition and (or) infringing the interests of other persons, including imposing disadvantageous contract conditions upon a counteragent as well as maintaining monopolistically high or low prices.