MRTPC orders probe into Jet-Kingfisher tie-up

The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC), the anti-monopoly watchdog, on Friday ordered its investigative arm Director General of Investigation and Registration to probe into the operational alliance formed by two leading private carriers Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines.

New Delhi, Oct 17 : The Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices Commission (MRTPC), the anti-monopoly watchdog, on Friday ordered its investigative arm Director General of Investigation and Registration to probe into the operational alliance formed by two leading private carriers Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airlines.

The watchdog ordered an investigation on the alliance, to find out whether the tie-up would result in monopoly and submit a report within 60 days, according to reports.

On October 13, Kingfisher Airlines chief Vijay Mallya and Jet Airways chief Naresh Goel broached a possible alliance to overcome their problems, largely generated by mounting fuel bills in wake of the global financial crisis.

Following the meetings between the two chiefs, the airlines had announced an alliance for working together in seven areas including joint fuel management, common ground handling and cross-selling of flight inventories.

ANI