According to the charges filed in US District Court for the District of Columbia, Timothy Pfeil, SAS's former director of sales & marketing for North America, conspired with competitors to fix the rates charged to US and international customers on air cargo shipments, in violation of the Sherman Act.
In accordance with the plea agreement, which is subject to court approval, Pfeil has agreed to cooperate with the Dept of Justice's ongoing investigation.
A month ago, SAS and four other international airlines agreed to plead guilty to fixing prices on air cargo rates and to pay criminal fines totalling US$504 million.
SAS has committed to an improved corporate compliance program, and has already undertaken measures to strengthen its internal compliance policy. SAS will continue to cooperate with US authorities in their continuing investigation of other air cargo carriers.
The plea agreement concludes the investigation by DOJ into SAS's cargo business. A separate investigation by the European Commission is underway, and SAS is co-operating in that investigation as well.
US Antitrust investigation - the score so far:
- August 2007: British Airways sentenced to pay $300 million
- August 2007: Korean Air Lines sentenced to pay $300 million
- January 2008: Qantas Airways sentenced to pay $61 million
- May 2008: Japan Airlines sentenced to pay $110 million
- May 2008: Bruce McCaffrey, Qantas' ex-VP freight, Americas, sentenced to serve eight months in jail and to pay a criminal fine
- July 2008: SAS agreed to pay $52 million
- July 2008: Cathay Pacific agreed to pay $60 million
- July 2008: Martinair agreed to pay $42 million
- July 2008: Air France-KLM agreed to pay $350 million
