All Nippon Airways (ANA) has agreed to plead guilty and will pay a $73 million criminal fine for its role in two separate conspiracies to fix prices in the air transportation industry, the U.S. Justice department said on Monday.
Prosecutors said Japan-based ANA engaged in a conspiracy to fix one or more components of cargo rates charged for international air cargo shipments from at least as early as April 1, 2000 until at least February 14, 2006.
The company was also charged with engaging in a conspiracy to fix unpublished passenger fares on tickets purchased in the United States from at least as early as April 1, 2000 until at least April 1, 2004.
ANA has also agreed to cooperate with the ongoing antitrust investigation of the U.S. Justice Department, which charged ANA with two counts of price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act. This carries a maximum fine for corporations of $100 million for each violation committed after June 22, 2004 and $10 million for violations committed before that date.
Including Monday’s charge, a total of 19 airlines and 14 executives have been charged in the Justice Department’s ongoing investigation into price fixing in the air transportation industry.
In addition, to date, more than $1.6 billion in criminal fines have been obtained and four executives have been sentenced to serve prison time. Charges are pending against the remaining 10 executives.
