International Air Transport Association Tariff Conference Proceeding

Order 2006-8-14
OST-2006-25307

Issued August 16, 2006 | Served August 17, 2006

Order | Word

We began this proceeding by issuing an order to show cause why we should not end our approval under 49 U.S.C. 41309 of the International Air Transport Association agreement that establishes tariff conferences at which IATA member airlines discuss and agree upon international fares and rates for scheduled passenger and cargo transportation.   We proposed to end the agreement’s approval only for tariff conference discussions and agreements on fares and rates for the U.S.-European Union and U.S.-Australia markets.  We did not propose to disapprove tariff conference discussions and agreements for fares and rates in other geographical markets.  If we determine to disapprove the agreement, it will no longer have antitrust immunity under 49 U.S.C. 41308.  Order 2006-7-3 (July 5, 2006).  Comments on our order and replies to comments submitted by other persons were due, respectively, on August 21 and September 20, 2007.

IATA is asking us to extend the due dates for comments and replies and to sever the cargo rate issues from this proceeding.  We are granting IATA’s motion in part by giving parties an additional sixty days for filing their comments on the show-cause order.

We will grant IATA’s motion in part.  We will extend the due date for comments from August 21 to October 20, 2006, to give IATA an additional two months to prepare its response.  IATA will now have three and one-half months to draft its comments on our show-cause order.  We do not believe a longer extension is necessary.

By: Michael Reynolds