Airfare Price-Fixing Investigation Underway

The Associated Press reports British Airways is under investigation for alleged price-fixing. In a brief statement the airline acknowledges both the U.S. Justice Department and the British Office of Fair Trading are looking into "alleged cartel activity involving British Airways and other airlines in relation to pricing of passenger air transportation, including fuel surcharges." AP reports three other airlines, including Virgin Atlantic, United Airlines and American Airlines also have been contacted and are cooperating with the probe. United and American spokesmen say their airlines have been told they are not being investigated. Both agencies point out that the public should make no presumption of wrongdoing simply because an investigation is in the works.