All the international routes to/from Ireland on which Irish carriers compete with foreign carriers are intra-Community routes and services operated on such routes must conform with Community law. Under the provisions of EC Council Regulation No. 2342/90, member states are required to permit Community air carriers of other member states to match air fares already approved for scheduled air services on routes between Ireland and other EC member states.
Air fares are also subject to the competition rules of the EC Treaty. EC Council Regulation No. 3976/87, as amended, exempts from the application of the competition rules of the Treaty, consultations between airlines on fares and the conditions applying to such fares. Such consultations must not, however, exceed the lawful purpose of facilitating interlining, which is generally recognised as being of benefit both to the consumer and the industry. The conditions under which such fares consultations take place are set down in Commission Regulation 84/91 and officials from the Commission regularly attend such consultations. Participation by air carriers in such consultations is voluntary.
I am satisfied that fares filed with me by carriers serving Ireland conform to the provision of Community rules and are not inconsistent with the terms of the Competition Act.
My Department do not control fares on non-scheduled air services.