• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ad – Bottom Content

Payload Asia

Darwin claims anti-competitive actions by SWISS

Payload Asia

Leaderboard

  • Home
  • Latest News
  • Channels 
    • Carriers
    • Aircraft Manufacturers
    • Airports
    • Courier & Mail
    • Freight Forwarders
    • Express
    • Ground Handling & Cargo Terminals
    • Logistics
  • 12th Payload Asia Awards
    • About
    • Categories
    • 11th Payload Asia Awards
    • 10th Payload Asia Awards
    • 9th Payload Asia Awards
    • Awards Gallery
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • More 
    • Event Calendar
    • Directory
    • Contact Us
Share

Darwin claims anti-competitive actions by SWISS

December 26, 2014 by PLA Editor

Swiss regional carrier Darwin Airline has formally complained to the country’s Competition Commission (COMCO), alleging abusive and anti-competitive behaviour by Swiss International Air Lines (SWISS).  

Early this year, Darwin announced it had reached an agreement with Etihad Airways for the rapidly expanding Abu Dhabi-based carrier to take a 33.3 per cent stake in Darwin, subject to regulatory approval. Under a commercial agreement with Etihad, Darwin was rebranded as Etihad Regional. Darwin has now alleged to COMCO that SWISS has responded to the agreement with a series of anti-competitive actions aimed at forcing Darwin out of the Swiss market.  

SWISS is part of the Lufthansa Group, which has been vocal in its opposition to the increasing inroads being made into European markets by the three major Gulf carriers—Etihad, Emirates and Qatar Airways.  

Darwin has alleged that SWISS’s actions have included:  

  • terminating, with no valid reason, the wet lease by SWISS of Darwin aircraft, which Darwin operated on behalf of the Swiss national carrier on the domestic Zurich-Lugano route for almost 10 years; 
  • replacing Darwin’s aircraft with larger aircraft from Tyrolean Airways, a wholly owned subsidiary of Austrian Airlines that uses non-SWISS aircraft on SWISS domestic routes; 
  • ending a standard IATA interline agreement between Darwin and SWISS. Terminating this  agreement makes it more burdensome for Darwin’s passengers and their baggage to connect between airlines; 
  • canceling an agreement for accommodating Darwin passengers in the event of flight disruptions; 
  • targeting the Darwin route network and launching new routes replicating those of Darwin, many of which previously had not been operated by SWISS.

“We are strong believers in fair competition and we cannot accept to be driven out of the market through predatory measures, which are clearly adopted as an attempt to weaken and damage our company rather than to fulfill the commercial logic of our competitor,” Darwin CEO Maurizio Merlo said. “We believe that these actions deserve to be examined in more detail by the Swiss Competition Authority.”  

He said SWISS was going to extraordinary lengths to put pressure on Darwin on routes where the current seat capacity cannot be filled.  

The Swiss aviation regulator has been seeking clarification for some months on aspects of Etihad’s interest in Darwin, seeking to ensure that the Lugano-based regional is not effectively under the Arab carrier’s control.

Visited 1 times, 1 visit(s) today

Other Topics: Air & Cargo Services, air cargo, Air Cargo Asia, air cargo freight, Air Forwarding, air freight, Air Freight Asia, Air Freight Logistics, air freighter, air freighting, Air Logistics Asia, Air Shipping Asia, airlines cargo, airways cargo, asia cargo news, cargo aviation, COMCO, Darwin Airline, Etihad Airways, IATA, Lufthansa, Maurizio Merlo

Related Articles

  • iata logoIATA: May Air cargo demand up 2.2% despite trade disruptions
  • iata logoEASA and IATA publish comprehensive plan to mitigate risks of GNSS interference
  • Etihad Airways and SF Airlines sign cargo joint business agreement to expand global air freight network
  • iata logoLuis Gallego Chairs IATA Board
  • iata logoIATA: Air cargo demand up 5.8% in April
  • iata logoIATA appoints Sheldon Hee as Regional Vice President for Asia-Pacific

Ad – After Content

Primary Sidebar

Trending News

  • 12th Payload Asia Awards now open for nominations 271 views

  • Cathay Cargo transports 10 terracotta figures and over 200 artefacts from Xi’an to Perth 237 views

  • Vietjet appoints new Managing Director 130 views

  • transport logistic Southeast Asia, air cargo Southeast Asia accelerates the region’s logistics resilience, sustainability, and digitalisation 113 views

Payload Asia Awards

Subscribe To
Our Newsletter



Payload Asia continues to be the authoritative source for informative, accurate and up-to-date news and information on the air cargo industry and related sectors.

With its updated and refreshed look the online edition continues to provide high quality coverage on the Asia-Pacific, India-Middle East, Europe-CIS, North & South America and Africa air cargo markets.

© 2024 Harvest Information. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy

Partner Sites : Asia Food Journal and Television Asia Plus .

We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your browsing experience.
Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. I agreeRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non Necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.

Analytics

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

Performance

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

Advertisement

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

Save & Accept

Stay Updated!

Subscribe now to receive the latest news, updates, and exclusive insights. Don’t miss out!

 

By submitting this form, you consent to receive marketing emails from Payload Asia. You can revoke your consent to receive emails at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email.

Disclaimer: Translations on this website are automated using Google Translate. While we strive for accuracy, please be cautious, as machine translations may contain errors. For critical or sensitive content, consider seeking professional human translation. We are not liable for any reliance on the translated content.

1