OFT issues statement of objections against BA and Virgin

The UK’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has issued a Statement of Objections to British Airways (BA) and Virgin Atlantic in its civil law investigation into alleged collusion over the pricing of passenger fuel surcharges. The statement, which outlines the OFT’s proposed decision and invites the parties to make representations, is a procedural step before the OFT can proceed to a final decision. In August 2007 BA reached an early resolution agreement with the OFT and Virgin Atlantic was granted conditional immunity under the OFT’s leniency policy in 2006, having brought the matter to the OFT’s attention. The OFT has