Ongoing EC Immunity for IATA Interline Fares will Continue to Secure Passenger Benefits

The Commission's decision was reached after broad consultation with all interested parties, including consumer organisations and EU Member States. The consultation process confirmed IATA's firm view that the IATA conference system generates real benefits for the travelling public that cannot be replicated by alternative approaches. Although alliances and other limited inter-carrier arrangements might reproduce some of the benefits of the IATA system, the consultation process showed that, without the IATA system, consumers would have less choice, interline fares would be higher, and smaller carriers would find it harder to compete.