Regulator checks up on Lufthansa fares following Air Berlin's collapse

The German cartel office has asked Lufthansa for information on ticket prices after receiving complaints over rising fares following the collapse of Air Berlin, Germany’s second largest carrier. Air Berlin ceased operations last month after filing for insolvency in August. Lufthansa plans to take on around 80 planes from its collapsed rival, although it is awaiting approval for the deal from the EU’s competition regulator. “We have asked Lufthansa to provide information on pricing,” cartel office president Andreas Mundt said, adding that the watchdog would examine the information and then decide whether to start an investigation. Lufthansa said it was cooperating fully with the cartel office and had not changed its pricing structures, which comprise up to 26 different fares per flight. “We have not altered our pricing. The insolvency of Air Berlin has led to a capacity bottleneck and therefore the cheapest tickets are being sold sooner,” a spokesman for the carrier said. Aviation industry expert Gerd Pontius said at a conference this week that prices were up to 30% higher on average on some routes. Lufthansa CE Carsten Spohr last week told German daily Bild that the collapse of Air Berlin meant 60,000 fewer seats were available each day but the situation should improve from January. Lufthansa and European budget airline easyJet hope to have approvals next month for their separate deals to buy parts of Air Berlin.<br/>