COMPETITION COUNCIL FINES AVIA INVEST FOR 31.63 MILLION LEI FOR ABUSE OF DOMINANT POSITION

The Competition Council has imposed 31.63 million lei on Avia Invest, the concessionaire of Chisinau Airport. The reason is "abuse of the dominant position in the market for providing access to infrastructure and facilities to ground services companies."

According to the council's press release, the investigation was launched following the MGH Ground Handling's complaint, which provides the same services at Chisinau Airport as Aeroport Handling, which is a part of the same group with Avia Invest.

The conduct of Avia Invest, which was deemed unlawful by the Competition Council, was manifested in the unreasonable appointment of the lease term, as well as the differential application of tariffs for the provision of leasing services to land service companies. The Council's decision states that Avia Invest applies unequal rates for the provision of leasing services: MGH Ground Handling pays a monthly rate for 1 m2 by 60% higher than Aeroport Handling.

"These abuses have disrupted competition in the service market. Only MGH Ground Handling was affected due to the connection between Aeroport Handling and Avia Invest. As a result, its market share has decreased significantly," the release says.