Air Caraïbes and Air Antilles Fined €14.5 Million for Price-Fixing on Regional Flights
France's competition authority penalized the airlines for colluding on ticket prices between 2015 and 2019, impacting inter-island travel in the French Caribbean.
- Air Caraïbes received the largest fine of €13 million, while Air Antilles' former parent company, K Finance, was fined €1.5 million.
- The price-fixing agreements spanned multiple years and affected routes connecting Pointe-à-Pitre, Fort-de-France, Saint-Martin, Sainte-Lucie, and Saint-Domingue.
- The collusion included shared pricing grids and agreements to limit competition, leading to significant ticket price increases, particularly after Hurricane Irma in 2017.
- The competition authority highlighted the severe impact on residents of the French Caribbean, who had limited transportation options and faced inflated costs.
- Air Caraïbes acknowledged the decision and is reviewing potential legal responses, while Air Antilles, now partially revived under new ownership, avoided direct penalties due to its prior liquidation.
Sud Ouest 
Le Figaro 