Russian regional antitrust delays case vs Siberia Airlines

The branch of Russia's Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS) for the Novosibirsk Region has delayed considering a case against Siberia Airlines, which operates under the S7 brand, Alexander Yelchaninov, deputy director of the regional antitrust service, said Tuesday, RIA Novosti reported.

The watchdog opened a case against the air carrier in September 2011 for setting excessive ticket prices for the route linking the cities of Novosibirsk and Sochi. The company's actions could violate the rights of passengers and competition law.

The service fined Siberia Airlines for 700,000 rubles, a motion which is being contested in court. This is the reason behind the delay in considering the case, Yelchaninov said.

In April 2011, the regional watchdog also found Siberia Airlines guilty of setting higher-than-average prices of the Novosibirsk-Vladivostok flight and imposed a 10 million ruble fine on the air carrier. The prices of tickets amounted to up to 38,000 rubles for the flight, 50% more than charged by other carriers.

(31.9344 rubles - U.S. $1)