| A worldwide investigation has been launched into | | | | concurrently". |
| alleged fuel price fixing by the air freight forwarding | | | | According to recent reports, Lufthansa has offered |
| industry. Eleven major freight carrying airlines are | | | | to cooperate with US federal prosecutors who are |
| being accused of trying to fix fuel price surcharges | | | | investigating the claim that price-fixing is taking place |
| for freight forwarding flights. Amongst the airlines | | | | in the global airline freight forwarding industry. |
| being accused of price fixing are British Airways, | | | | Legal experts claim that by offering to co-operate |
| United Airlines and Lufthansa. | | | | with the authorities, Lufthansa could protect itself |
| The airlines are being sued for fuel price fixing by a | | | | from possible criminal charges. This is most likely to |
| Tanzanian firm which had used KLM as a freight | | | | be the case if it provides evidence against other air |
| forwarding company to transport wood carvings to | | | | freight forwarding companies. |
| New York. | | | | The investigation into allegations of fuel price fixing |
| The company, Sisimizi which is based in Dar-Es-Salaam | | | | became public in February this year. At this time, |
| in Tanzania, is seeking unspecified damages from a | | | | authorities in Europe, Asia and the United States |
| number of major airlines which act as freight | | | | raided offices of a number of the world's major |
| forwarding companies. The complaint about fuel price | | | | airlines. They also requested information from other |
| fixing by leading airlines was filed on February 28 in | | | | air freight forwarding companies. The crux of their |
| US District Court for the Northeastern District of | | | | investigations rests on the claim that air freight |
| Illinois. | | | | forwarders conspired to fix fuel surcharges and other |
| According to Julius Maldutis, the president of | | | | fuel related costs. |
| consulting firm Aviation Dynamics: | | | | A number of airlines have been asked to provide |
| "This is going to be a very big issue because all the | | | | evidence and most have said that they are |
| airlines increased the price of their cargo business | | | | co-operating with these requests. |