91/481/EEC: Commission Decision of 30 July 1991 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (case No IV/32.792 - IATA Cargo Agency Programme)
Date: 1991-07-30
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: IATA, air safety, air transport, carriage of goods, freight rate, travel agency













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31991D0481

91/481/EEC: Commission Decision of 30 July 1991 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (case No IV/32.792 - IATA Cargo Agency Programme)  


Official Journal L 258 , 16/09/1991 P. 0029 - 0039 





COMMISSION  DECISION of 30 July 1991 relating to a proceeding pursuant to Article 85 of the EEC Treaty (Case N°  IV/32.792 - IATA cargo agency programme) (91/481/EEC)THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN  COMMUNITIES, having regard to Council Regulation N° 17 of 6 February 1962, first Regulation implementing  Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty (1) as last amended by the Act of Accession of Spain and Portugal,  and in particular, Articles 6 and 8 thereof, Having regard to the application for negative clearance and the notifications for exemption,  submitted pursuant to Articles 2 and 4 of Regulation N° 17 on 7 July 1988, 2 October 1989 and 17  April 1990, concerning certain resolutions of IATA regarding cargo agencies. Having regard to the summary of the application and notification published (2) pursuant to Article  19 (3) of Regulation N° 17, After consultation with the Advisory Committee for Restrictive Practices and Dominant Positions, Whereas I. THE FACTS A. Subject of the Decision (1) This Decision to the following IATA resolutions dealing with cargo agencies: - resolution 805: IATA cargo agency distribution system rules, Europe, - resolution 805d: agency commissioner, - resolution 805e: Conduct of review by agency commissioner, ('the Resolution 805 series`). B. The undertakings: IATA and its membership (2) IATA is an association of enterprises composed of 189 member air carriers, it was founded at  the International Air Transport Operators Conference at Havana, Cuba, in April 1945. (3) Members of IATA are classified as active or associate. Any air transport enterprise operating  an air service between the territories of two or more States is eligible for membership as an  active member. (4) The undertakings are the 154 active member airlines participating in the IATA Cargo Agency  Conference (Caconf). 35 IATA associate member airlines (3) do not offer international scheduled  services nor participate in the Caconf. The arrangements, however, affect them because they comply  with them. C. The product: air freight agency services (5) The IATA resolutions, subject of this Decision, concern air freight cargo agency services, or  the sale of air freight transportation through intermediaries. D. The Market (6) According to IATA the global operating revenues for scheduled international cargo services of  all IATA member airlines in 1989, were approximately US $ 12 500 million, out of total revenues for  all services (passenger, cargo, mail and other) of about US $ 70 700 million. The individual  members' total turnovers (passenger, cargo, mail and other) range from US $ 1,5 million to US $ 9  960 million. According to the Association of European Airlines (AEA) Yearbook Statistical Appendices for 1988,  the total revenues of AEA airlines based in the Community (4) coming from international cargo  traffic amounted to US $ 4 899 million. (7) All IATA member airlines use the cargo agency programme for their sales. IATA accredited cargo  agents, which number approximately 1 000 in the Community, of a total of some 3 000 IATA agents  registered worldwide, are in the majority independent businesses. (It is estimated that in the  Community there are approximately 300 to 400 professional intermediaries handling international  cargo not registered as IATA cargo agents.) However, they may sometimes be part of a group of  companies. In a few instances, they are controlled by transport enterprises such as railways and  shipping lines and even by member airlines of IATA. (8) Sales are made by means of a contract for carriage (air waybill) issued by the airline or,  within the terms of the arrangements, by the airlines' appointed agent on the airlines' behalf. The  airlines have their own sales outlets in their biggest markets, but make, according to estimates,  approximately 70 % of their sales in Europe through IATA cargo agents, the remainder being handled  through airlines' own sales offices, or through their general sales agents. E. The agreements THE IATA CARGO AGENCY PROGRAMME General (9) The cargo agency programme, which has been established by the Caconf and is the IATA's system  for appointing intermediaries, in the field of cargo carriage, is one of its basic institutions. It  is argued that the main objective of the programme is to ensure that cargo agency outlets selling  on behalf of IATA members are professional, provide dependable service to shippers and appointing  airlines, and handle shippers' goods and airlines' monies with integrity. (10) The programme incorporates three main features: (a) accreditation, whereby any person may seek approval to promote and process international air  cargo transportation for remuneration by IATA members, by satisfying specified basic criteria and  entering into contractual relations with those airlines; (b) cargo accounts settlement systems (CASS), clearing houses which provide to both airlines and  agents economies of scale and the benefits of standardization and automation in the collection and  distribution of monies due from IATA to airlines. (c) vocational training programmes, helping intermediaries, both IATA agents and others which may  seek IATA accreditation, to achieve and maintain in a cost-effective manner the standards required  to help the customer to make his choice of the airline products offered; this is particularly  important in developing competence in handling of dangerous goods, to ensure safety of passengers,  of crew and of aircraft on which these shipments are loaded. (11) The management of the programme is assigned to the agency administration division, within the  IATA Secretariat. The IATA resolutions under examination (1) Qualifications for accreditation and retention as an IATA cargo agent (12) Any person in possession of the appropriate official licences, where required, may become an  IATA cargo agent by making an application in the form prescribed to the IATA agency administrator  in the country where such person carries on business, and by meeting the qualifications set out  below. Such qualifications must continue to be met in order to ensure retention as an IATA cargo  agent. For this purpose the term 'applicant` when used below shall be understood to include an  already accredited agent. (13) The applicant shall submit independently produced financial statements prepared in accordance  with local accounting practices as specified and published by the IATA body entrusted with  accreditation; such statements shall be evaluated pursuant to the methodology and standards  established from time to time by the same body. To obtain a satisfactory evaluation, the applicant  may be required to provide additional financial support in the form of recapitalization or of a  bank or insurance guarantee. When the financial position of an agent is reviewed, if the agent is  unable to meet the financial criteria, normal business fluctuations shall be taken into account and  the agent will be provide with a reasonable period of time to meet those criteria. (14) The applicant is required to employ at all places where it makes air cargo for carriage  full-time staff competent and qualified to provide the services and handling functions set by IATA.  The applicant must supply evidence that: (a) two such persons hold an adequate basic diploma having completed an acceptable course; (b) two such persons, at the time of application and at all time subsequent to registration; (i) hold an IATA/FIATA (Fédération internationale des associations de transitaires et assimilés -  International Federation of Air Freight Forwarders Associations) advanced diploma including  training in handling of dangerous goods, obtained within the previous two years; or (ii) have completed, within the previous two years, an equivalent dangerous goods course of  training given by an IATA member, or another training course in handling dangerous goods recognized  by IATA and offered by another entity. (15) The applicant must in the country concerned: (a) maintain and operate at least one office (or a department of such an office) engaged in the  promotion or sale of international air cargo transportation over the lines of IATA members, and the  handling of consignments therein; (b) have adequate insurance to cover its liability for loss of or damage to shippers' cargo. (16) The applicant must have premises, staff and equipment for the performance of the following  functions as a minimum: (a) quoting airlines' rates and charges and conditions pertaining to such rates and charges; (b) assisting customers in completing the required formalities for the transportation of cargo by  air, including reservation services; (c) delivering (or arranging for delivery of) consignments to an airline at any airport designated  by the airline for general acceptance of all consignments ready for carriage; (d) accepting restricted articles for carriage and delivery (or arranging for delivery) to an  airline in accordance with the applicable dangerous goods regulations; (e) collecting charges from customers, and remitting monies due to carriers. (17) Where officially required, the applicant must be in possession of a valid licence to trade.  Suspension or withdrawal of this licence constitute grounds to initiate a review of the agent. (18) The applicant must not have a name which is: (i) the same as or misleadingly similar to that of an IATA member; or (ii) the same as that of another IATA cargo agent in the same country; this prohibition does not  apply to persons entered on the cargo agency list prior to 1 April 1984. The place of business must not be identified as an office of an IATA member. (19) The applicant, its managerial staff, its principal shareholders (and persons for whom they act  as nominees), directors, officers and managers shall not have been found guilty of wilful  violations of fiduciary obligations incurred in the course of business nor be undischarged  bankrupts. Procedures for accreditation (20) The applicant is required to complete an application form and submit it to the IATA agency  administrator, accompanied by the necessary documents and financial statements and by fees,  including application, entry and first annual agency fees. The agency administrator may ask the  applicant to provide additional information. (21) The administrator will publish a listing of the applications received in order that the IATA  members may within 30 days file evidence and indicate the grounds why, in their opinion, the  applicant does not meet the qualifications. In this case the applicant is informed and invited to  respond. (22) A decision must be taken within 45 days of the date of publication of the listing. The  applicant is to be notified promptiy in writing and, in the event of rejection, must be given clear  reasons why the application failed. (23) A rejected applicant may, within 30 calendar days of the agency administrator's notice request  reconsideration of his decision, and where still aggrieved, subsequently invoke the procedures for  review by the agency commissioner referred to in resolution 805d (see recital 32 below). (24) Successful applicants will be entered on the IATA cargo agency list and the IATA Director  General will execute a cargo agency agreement with each person registered as an agent. The agency  administrator must promptly notify all airlines of the names of parties executing cargo agency  agreements and the dates of such agreements. The agency administrator is required to maintain,  publish and circulate from time to time a cargo agency list of all persons with whom the Director  General has entered into a cargo agency agreement. (25) An IATA member may appoint an agent which is on the cargo agency list: (i) by depositing with the agency administrator a statement of general agreement for the  appointment of all agents. IATA shall from time to time publish a list of members having deposited  such a statement of general agreement; (ii) alternatively, a member may inform the agent, in writing with copy to the agency  administrator, that the member specifically agrees in its appointment as an agent. (26) The member airline having appointed an agent may cancel such appointment by so notifying the  agent in writing with a copy to the agency administrator. (27) The provision of air waybills shall be at the option of the member. The member may, also at  its opinion, authorize the agent to issue neutral air waybills on the member's behalf. Payment of Commission (28) Agents duly appointed by IATA members are paid commission for the sale of international air  cargo transportation, at such rates as may be authorized from time to time by individual member  airlines. The resolution 805 contains rules as to how to calculate commission, and rules related to  interline sales, payment of commission to applicants, duties of agents in order to be paid  commission (acceptance and delivery of goods, provision of air waybills and collection of payment),  agents in country of destination, charter transportation, government transportation and refunds.  There is no ban on splitting commissions with the shipper. Administrative rules (29) Resolution 805 also contains technical and administrative rules on how to collect funds and  remit payments through CASS or directly to airlines, rules on change of ownership, legal status,  name or address. Dispute procedures (30) If at any time after receipt of a declaration of default from a member the agency  administrator becomes aware that there exists between that member and the the agent a commercial  dispute in respect of the period for which the notice of irregularity was sent and/or in respect of  previous periods, the agency administrator is required to withhold or to withdraw, as the case may  be, the declaration of default. If such declaration is withdrawn, the agency administrator must  terminate actions against the agent and notify all members and, where applicable, the CASS  management accordingly. Upon receipt of such notification, members must pay any commission withheld  from the agent. The notice of irregularity giving rise to the withheld or withdrawn declaration of  default must be removed by the agency administrator. If a declaration of default was the result of  an error and the declaring member so notifies the agency administrator and submits details in  writing, the agency administrator must withdraw the declaration of default and the procedures above  also apply in such a case. Measures affecting agents' standing (31) Agents may relinquish accreditation or may be removed by IATA for the reasons specified in  resolution 805 (e. g. not meeting the qualifications for retention, because of default or  irregularities, losing the licence to trade in the countries where this is required, etc.). They  may also be suspended or reprimanded. The procedures and the effects of the various situations are  specified. Review of IATA agency administrator's decisions affecting applicants and agents, and review of  agents' status (32) Decisions affecting applicants and agents, issued by the competent IATA bodies may be reviewed  at first instance by an IATA commissioner appointed for that purpose, referred to in resolution  805d, who will also deal with the review of the agents' status when some grievance against him has  been raised by the IATA agency administrator. The decisions of the commissioner are, for their  part, subject to review by arbitration. Procedures for review by the commissioner are contained in  resolution 805e. Procedures for review by arbitration are contained in resolution 805. Review of a member's individual decisions (33) Resolution 805 provides for the right of review of IATA members' individual decisions  affecting agents. Accordingly, an agent which considers itself aggrieved by the decision of a  member: (a) to refuse to appoint such agent, or (b) to withdraw its appointment of such agent; or (c) to refuse to: (i) supply the agent with stock of its air waybills; or (ii) authorize the agent to issue neutral air waybills on its behalf; or (d) to withdraw: (i) its air waybill stock from the agent; or (ii) its authorization to the agent to issue neutral air waybills on its behalf, with the result that such agent's commercial interests are adversely affected to the point of  placing its business in jeopardy, has the right to obtain such member's criteria for appointing  agents for the reasons for the refusal or withdrawal. If the agent believes such justification is  unreasonable then the agent is required, in the first instance, to seek clarification and  satisfaction from the member. If the issue is not thereby resolved, the agent has the right to have  the member's decision reviewed by the agency commissioner. Where the member's decision to withdraw  its appointment, stock of air waybills or authorization to issue neutral air waybills from the  agent was made in application of the collective provisions of resolution 805 the agent's right for  review is not to be exercised against the member individually but as set forth in the particular  provisions concerned and in resolution 805e. Implementation (34) Resolutions 805, 805d and 805e will be implemented in all Member States by not later than 1  July 1991. At the same time the regimes set forth by IATA resolutions series 801 and 803 will no longer apply  to agents whose places of business are within the Community. F. The resolution 805 series as compared to the previous regimes (35) In its first application of 7 July 1988, IATA notified several resolutions concerning the IATA  cargo agency programme, whose core consisted in the resolution 801 series, namely: - resolution 801: cargo agency administration rules, - resolution 801: cargo agency agreement. (36) Subsequent to this application the IATA Caconf adopted a new resolution 803 series replacing  resolution 801 series and introducing material changes to IATA's arrangements concerning cargo  agencies. The new resolutions were notified on 2 October 1989. According to IATA they were  developed with a view to the changing regulatory environment and took into account, inter alia, the  Commission's concerns regarding cargo agents. (37) By letter of 17 April 1990 IATA further notified resolution 805 series substituting resolution  803 as the basic applicable regime in the European Community. These resolutions contain a number of  changes in comparison to the provisions of the earlier resolutions. Many of these changes were  introduced following the Commission's intervention. (38) As compared to resolution 801 series and resolution 803 series the resolution 805 series have  eliminated a number of restrictions on agents: - there is no 'productivity criterion`, i. e. the need that applicants attain a minimum turnover in  order to get IATA accreditation; - staffing requirements have been adapted as required to offer a reliable service to customers. The  Commission accepted IATA's arguments that at locations where cargo agents perform activities  related to handling of dangerous goods, two staff are necessary. International cargo transportation  involves many participants, complex documentation and handling of dangerous cargo. For that reason  agents should not only be successful in selling transportation but also reliable in handling  consignments while accurate in preparing documents, - there is no prohibition of granting rebates to the benefit of the customer by commission  splitting, - there is no prohibition of non-cash payments to agents (beneficial services), - procedures for accreditation have been shortened, - rules on premises have been relaxed in order to permit in-house air freight departments of  commercial firms to obtain IATA accreditation. In particular, the requirement included in  Resolution 801 that, in order to obtain IATA accreditation an applicant must be 'open to the  general public` has been dropped from resolution 805, - any person, and not only already established agents, may obtain the IATA accreditation by  fulfilling the criteria therefor, - limitations to the possibility of selling charter air freight transport by agents have been  dropped, - a neutral review and arbitration procedure has been established that will permit agents to  contest decisions that might hamper their commercial activities. This is especially important in  case of dominant carriers' individual decisions. (39) Another major step forward has been the elimination of exclusivity arrangements from the cargo  agency programme. Accordingly, IATA agents are entitled to work for non-IATA airlines or charter  companies, or for IATA airlines on a bilateral basis, while airlines are entitled to enter into  agreements with non-IATA agents. G. Comments of interested parties (40) The Commission received comments from several freight forwarders' association, namely the  Bundesverband Spedition und Lagerei e.V. (BSL), (letter of 14 January 1991), the Belgian Air  Freight Industry, (BAFI), (letter of 15 January 1991), the International Federation of Freight  Forwarders Associations, (FIATA), (letter of 17 January 1991), and the European Liaison Committee  of Common Market Forwarders, (CLECAT), (letter of 17 January 1991). Forwarders, while globally supporting the Commission's intentions as expressed in its notice  pursuant to Article 19 (3) of Regulation N° 17, criticized the omission of the requirement that in  order to get accreditation an applicant should be 'open to the general public`. They argued that  access to the IATA programme should not be open to in-house agents. Furthermore, in their view the supression of such a requirement could entail a restriction of  commerce, shipper discrimination and hazards to aircraft safety. Forwarders also submit that IATA airlines make not only 70 % but up to 95 % of their sales in  Europe through IATA cargo agents, and that they do not benefit from CASS, the IATA clearing houses  for air freight sales (see recital 10), as benefits are confined to airlines. Forwarders are not  opposed to CASS, however, because such systems do no damage. The Commission has considered the freight forwarders' comments on the suppression by IATA in  resolution 805 of the requirement included in resolution 801 that, in order to obtain IATA  accreditation an applicant must be 'open to the general public`. Neither IATA carriers nor shippers  were against the suppression of this requirement. In the Commission's opinion, such a requirement  could be used to withold accreditation from companies fulfilling the other objective requirements,  which would not be legitimate. Experience has shown that once in the air freight agency business, commercial and industrial  companies have developed and opened to the general public their own agencies, thus increasing the  number of sales outlets to the benefit of other shippers. The Commission, accordingly, does not concur with the freight forwarders' views in this respect. As  to CASS, the Commission has taken into account the freight forwarders' comments in its decision. II. LEGAL ASSESSMENT (41) The agreements among member airlines of IATA referred to in paragraph 1 fall within Article 85  (1) since they restrict competition and affect trade between Member States. They cannot therefore  be given negative clearance as the IATA requests. They can, however, be exempted pursuant to  Article 85 (3). A. Article 85 (1) (42) IATA member airlines are undertakings within the meaning of Article 85 (1), and the  arrangements made between them and formalized in the IATA resolution 805 series constitute  agreements and decisions of an association of undertakings falling within the scope of that  Article. (a) Object and effect of restricting competition (43) The abovementioned agreements and decisions restrict competition between individual IATA  member airlines at the level of distribution of their air freight transport services, from the  moment they agree to apply collectively an identical distribution scheme for a very important part  of their sales. Although the selective system is not exclusive for agents or for carriers and there  is no territorial limitation imposed on agents, the IATA programme is in fact the favourite  distribution channel for most airlines. Distribution policies are thus aligned to a certain degree  with most other airlines for an important part of their business. (44) The distribution and sales system agreed by IATA member airlines leaves little room for other  forms of distribution based on a different type of policy that could be adopted by individual IATA  airlines, and results in a rather rigid sales structure. Should the IATA system not exist, each  airline would have its own network of agents, normally different from those of its competitors.  This would produce greater competition both between agents and between airlines. (45) The resolutions have also the greatest impact in the freight forwarding business community in  the Community, and create a more rigid structure than bilateral systems, which would introduce  stronger elements of competition in distribution. (46) Thirdly, competition between agents will be affected, even though sharing commissions with  customers (shippers) is allowed. Some limitation in competition is inherent in any collective  distribution system in which criteria for selection are homogeneous. Thus competition for sales  between specialist agents like IATA's will necessarily remain more limited than could be expected  otherwise. Furthermore competition with non-IATA agents or with other participants in the distribution market  outside the IATA framework will be distorted because membership of the collective IATA agency  system gives some agents an artificial advantage over distributors who remain outside the system. (47) From the above there can be little doubt that the relevant IATA resolutions affect the  structure of competition on the Community market as a whole at the three levels just mentioned. (b) Effect on trade between Member States (48) The IATA resolutions under examination concern services in which there is a substantial trade  within the Community, as evidenced in paragraphs 6 to 8. Therefore, the agreements have an effect on intra-Community trade, as they produce a substantial  impact in the whole structure of competition. B. Article 85 (3) (49) The IATA resolutions under examination meet the conditions for exemption laid down in Article  85 (3). They contribute to improving the production and distribution of goods and to promoting  technical and economic progress, while allowing customers a fair share of the resulting benefit.  They neither impose on the undertakings concerned, restrictions which are not indispensable to the  attainment of these objectives nor do they afford the undertakings the possibility of eliminating  competition in respect of a substantial part of the products in question. Improvement in production and distribution, promotion of technical and economic progress (50) The resolutions permit central administration of IATA agents and afford a reduction in  airlines' costs of administering their retail agents; many airlines could not afford to administer  a large chain of agents of their own, and in particular small/medium sized airlines regard the IATA  agency system as an irreplaceable essential. The advantages are particularly attractive for  airlines with extensive international operations, providing market access which would be otherwise  difficult and expensive to achieve. Through a single standard agreement executed with IATA, an  agent whose authorization to represent IATA members is recognized after appropriate appraisal may  issue air waybills on behalf of any appointing member. The system promotes worldwide standards in  selling the airlines' products and upholds the financial integrity of marketing outlets. Through  its safety aspect, it also protects the travelling public who not infrequently travel on aircraft  transporting air cargo. (51) The IATA resolution 805 system contributes to improving the distribution of the air transport  product by: (a) offering each member airline the benefits of economies of scale by: - identifying and accrediting suitable sales outlets, - standardizing contractual relationships with agents, - promoting higher standards of competence and reliability in the distribution industry; (b) providing agents with: - a shortened accreditation procedure on non-discriminatory grounds, - a simplified contractual relationship with all IATA member airlines, - immediate ability to sell the services of most airlines, - simplified administration and reporting, - access to professional staff training, - a built-in procedure for the even-handed treatment of disputes with airlines, through reference  of such disputes to a neutral arbitration body, - the professional back-up of the IATA secretariat (publications, advice, training programmes etc.) - the professional standing which accompanies IATA accreditation. Advantages for customers (52) The IATA system as put forward by resolution 805 series allows customers a fair share of the  resulting benefits through: (a) technical/operational standards required of agents to demonstrate reliability (financial  viability, staff qualifications and experience including competence in the handling of dangerous  goods, suitability of premises and handling equipment); (b) wide choice of IATA agents (approximately 1 000 throughout the Community that will increase,  following the application of resolution 805's criteria); (c) access to agents representing a large number of airlines serving the widest range of  destinations; (d) increased competition between IATA agents, by permitting them to grant rebates out of their  commission. Indispensability of the restrictions (53) The standardization and the economies of scale achieved by the system set forth by the  resolutions could not be obtained without a uniform international system. In effect, the IATA  system is based on the high number of airlines and the high number of agents involved therein. Its  restrictive features, but also its beneficial effects stem from this fact. Those and the others are  inseparable. Elimination of competition (54) Competition among airlines at distribution level is not eliminated by the IATA resolution 805  series system. Airlines are free to offer agents the remuneration, via commission or otherwise,  they consider appropriate. They are also free to make their own sales and to establish their own  distribution network on a bilateral basis, on conditions different from those agreed in IATA. (55) As stated in recital 54, airlines are allowed to and in fact effect part of their sales by  parallel competing channels. Competition is not eliminated by the resolutions, which in no case  impose exclusivity on the interested parties. Agents are allowed, in particular, to sell  transportation in non-IATA airlines and in air charter companies. (56) A substantial competition among agents, IATA or non-IATA, and whether appointed on a  multilateral basis or on a bilateral basis, will remain. In effect, IATA agents will compete not  only by offering better service to their customers, but also by sharing commissions with them. They  will also compete with non-IATA agents. There is also the possibility that some IATA accredited  agents may enter into bilateral deals with IATA airlines and compete on a non-IATA basis with other  fellow IATA-accredited agents. (57) Concerning this point, in conclusion, the Commission considers that competition not eliminated  by the IATA system because, together with it, actual and future methods of distribution based on  different types of policies co-exist and will further develop in a progressively liberalized  European market for services in general and agencies and air transportation in particular. Economic and structural impact of the Resolutions under examination (58) The regime set up by IATA resolutions 805, 805d and 805e goes in the sense of liberalization,  is more responsive to market realities than the previous Resolutions, and was prompted by the  Commission's intervention following IATA's notifications. (59) As a result of all these changes, the relationship between agents and IATA airlines becomes  more balanced and entry into the air freight agency business on behalf of IATA members is easier,  without any loss as to the agents' competence or reliability. As a result of this, sales outlets  are likely to increase in number, to the benefit of the customer, who will also benefit from the  increased competition among agents. (60) In the opinion of the Commission, the resolution 805 system should avoid the risk of abuse or  discriminatory application of the procedure set forth. In this sense it is noteworthy that any  refusal of approval to someone satisfying the criteria would be discriminatory, and that local  implementation should not deviate from those criteria. (61) In a time of air freight transport expansion and increasing liberalization in European air  transportation, the cargo programme as set forth in resolution 805 series may play an important  role in making the market more fluid to the benefit of airlines, agents and customers alike. Duration of the exemption (62) Article 8 (1) of Regulation N° 17 provides that exemptions under Article 85 (3) may be granted  only for a specific period and that conditions and obligations may be attached to them. (63) The Commission does not deem necessary to impose any conditions or obligations. However, the  Commission will closely monitor the working of the system before this exemption expires, in order  to assess whether a renewal could be granted, if it were requested. (64) In view of the nature of the agreements and decisions under examination, the appropriate  duration of the exemption, which serves the objectives listed in Article 85 (3), is considered to  be 10 years from the date of the first notification, that is until 6 July 1998, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 Pursuant to Article 85 (3), the provisions of Article 85 (1) of the EEC Treaty are hereby declared  inapplicable for the period 7 July 1988 to 6 July 1998 to IATA resolutions 805, 805d and 805e. Article 2 This Decision is addressed to the International Air Transport Association and to the undertakings  listed in the Annex to this Decision. Done at Brussels, 30 July 1991. For the Commission Leon BRITTAN Vice president (1) OJ N° 13, 21. 2. 1962, p. 204/62.  (2) OJ N° C 320, 20. 12. 1990, p. 4.  (3) See Annex for IATA Active and Associate Members.  (4) Community Carriers in AEA comprise Aer Lingus, Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Iberia,  KLM, Lufthansa, Luxair, Olympic, Sabena, SAS, TAP and UTA.  (1) Unless otherwise specified the provisions above are contained in Resolution 805. ANNEX International Air Transport Association - membership 189 Members (154 Active and  35 Associate) on 15th February 1990 Active members Adria Airways Aer Lingus plc Aeroflot Soviet Airlines Aerolíneas Argentinas Aerolineas Nicaraguenses SA (AERONICA) Aerovias de México SA de CV (AEROMEXICO) Aerovias Nacionales de Colombia SA (AVIANCA) Affretair (PVT) Ltd Air Afrique Air Algérie Air Botswana Air Bremen GmbH  &  Co. Air Bridge Carriers Ltd Air Canada Air Europe Ltd Air France Air Gabon Air Guinée Air Jamaica Ltd Air Littoral Air Madagascar Air Malawi Ltd Air Malta Company Ltd Air Martinique Air Mauritius Air New Zealand Ltd Air Niugini Air Pacific Ltd Air Seychelles Ltd Air Tanzania Corporation Air Tungaru Corporation Air UK Air Zaúre Air Zimbabwe Corporation Air India Airline of the Marshall Islands Alaska Airlines Inc. Alisarda SpA Alitalia - Linee Aeree Italiane SpA All Nippon Airways Co., Ltd American Airlines Inc. America West Airlines, Inc. Ariana Afghan Airlines Co. Ltd Austrian Airlines Balkan Bulgarian Airlines Berlin European UK Ltd Birmingham European Airways plc Braathens SAFE British Airways plc British Midland Airways Ltd Brymon Airways Cameroon Airlines Canadian Airlines International Ltd Caribbean Air Cargo Company Ltd Ceskoslovenske Aerolinie (CSA) Compañía Mexicana de Aviación SA de CV (MEXICANA) Continental Airlines Inc. Cook Islands International Airlines Ltd Crossair Cruzeiro do Sul SA - Servicos Aéreos Cyprus Airways Ltd Dan-Air Services Ltd Delta Air Regionalflugverkehr GmbH Democratic Yemen Airlines (ALYEMOA) Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LUFTHANSA) Eastern Air Lines Inc. Egyptair El Al Israel Airlines Ltd Emirates Empresa Consolidada Cubana de Aviación (CUBANA) Empresa de Transporte Aéreo del Perú (AEROPERU) Empresa Ecuatoriana de Aviación SA (ECUATORIANA) Ethiopian Airlines Corporation Federal Express Corporation Finnair Oy Friendly Islands Airways Ltd Gambia Air Shuttle Ltd Garuda Indonesia German Wings Luftfahrtunternehmen GmbH Ghana Airways Corporation Gulf Air Company GSC Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd (DRAGONAIR) IBERIA, Líneas Aéreas de España SA Icelandair Indian Airlines Iran Air, The Airline of the Islamic Republic of Iran Iraqi Airways Jamahiriya Libyan Arab Airlines Japan Airlines Co. Ltd Japan Air System Co. Ltd Jugoslovenski Aerotransport (JAT) Kenya Airways Ltd KLM Royal Dutch Airlines Korean Air Kuwait Airways Corporation LAM - Linhas Aéreas de Moçambique Lauda Air Luftfahrt AG Lesotho Airways Corporation Línea Aérea del Cobre SA (LADECO) Línea Aérea Nacional - Chile SA (LAN-CHILE) Líneas Aéreas Costarricenses SA (LACSA) Líneas Aéreas Paraguayas - LAP Lloyd Aéreo Boliviano SA (LAB) Loganair Ltd London City Airways MALEV - Hungarian Airlines Manx Airlines Ltd Middle East Airlines Airliban (MEA) Nationair Canada NFD Luftverkehrs AG Nigeria Airways Ltd Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) Olympic Airways, SA Pakistan International Airlines Corp. (PIA) Pan American World Airways, Inc. Philippine Airlines Inc. PLUNA - Primeras Líneas Uruguayas de Navegación Aérea Polskie Linie Lotnicze (LOT) Polynesian Airlines Ltd Qantas Airways Ltd Royal Air Maroc Royal Jordanian (ALIA - The Royal Jordanian Airline) Royal Swazi National Airways Corp. Ltd Ryanair Ltd SABENA (Société anonyme belge d'exploitation de la navigation aérienne) Saudi Arabian Airlines Corp. (SAUDIA) Scandinavian Airlines System (SAS) Scottish European Airways Solomon Airlines Somali Airlines South African Airways (SAA) Sudan Airways Company Ltd Swedair AB Swiss Air Transport Co. Ltd (SWISSAIR) Syrian Arab Airlines TAGG - Linhas Aéreas de Angola (ANGOLA AIRLINES) TAP - Air Portugal Tempelhof Airways USA Inc. Tower Air Inc. Trans-Mediterranean Airways SAL (TMA) Transavia Holland BV d/b/a Transavia Airlines Trans World Airlines Inc. (TWA) Trinidad  &  Tobago (BWIA International) Airways Corp. Tunis Air Turk Hava Yollari AD (TURKISH AIRLINES) United Airlines USAir, Inc. UTA (Union de Transports Aériens) VARIG SA (Viaçao Aérea Rio-Grandense) Venezolana Internacional de Aviación SA (VIASA) Virgin Atlantic Airways YEMENIA Yemen Airways Zambia Airways Corporation Ltd ZAS Airline of Egypt Associate members Aero Lloyd Flugreisen GmbH  &  Co. Luftverkehrs-KG Air America (Air Specialities Corp. d/b/a Air America) Air Écosse Ltd Air Inter (Lignes Aériennes Intérieures) Air Réunion Air Tahiti Aloha Airlines, Inc. Ansett Airlines of Australia Ansett New Zealand Austral Líneas Aéreas SA Australian Airlines Ltd Aviación y Comercio, SA (AVIACO) Commercial Airways (Pty) Ltd DLT Deutsche Luftverkehrsgesellschaft mbH Douglas Airways Pty Ltd East-West Airlines Falcon Cargo AB Flight West Airlines Ltd INTAIR IPEC Aviation Kendell Airlines LAR Transregional (Linhas Regionais SA) Mount Cook Airlines Namib Air (Pty) Ltd Salair AB Sunflower Airlines Ltd Sunstate Airlines TALAIR Pty Ltd Transbrasil SA Linhas Aéreas (Trans Brasil) Trans-Jamaican Airlines Ltd Transport Aérien Transregional (TAT) Vayudoot Ltd Viaçao Aérea Sao Paulo SA (VASP) Wairarapa Airlines Ltd Wideroe Flyveselskap A/S