Air New Zealand has welcomed a decision by the US Department of Justice to halt its cargo cartel investigation against the airline.
Air New Zealand said the decision vindicated its belief that after five years of defending its position, it was innocent of all cartel allegations.
The end of the Department of Justice investigation follows successful outcomes for the airline last November when it was not among airlines fined by the European Commission and before that, confirmation from regulators in South Korea that Air New Zealand was not among airlines fined at the conclusion of their investigation.
Competition regulators around the world commenced investigations into the air cargo industry in 2005.
Fines imposed to date on those airlines that have admitted guilt or been found guilty exceed US$1 billion.
Air NZ general counsel John Blair said US Department of Justice prosecutors recognised “that Air New Zealand conducts its business affairs in compliance with the lawâ€.
