Australia's consumer watchdog has lost a bid to halt an appeal by Garuda Indonesia despite its failure to pay a A$19m penalty imposed in an international airline cartel cargo case. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission sought a stay of Garuda's appeal, contending the airline was in contempt of court by failing to pay the penalty which was due in August 2019. In the Federal Court on Thursday, Justice David Yates dismissed the application, ruling that failure to comply with an order to pay money is not, itself, sufficient to make a finding of contempt. To take such a "drastic step" in staying the appeal, the judge said he would have to be persuaded Garuda's failure to comply was deliberate and wilful. The ACCC argued Garuda had not provided a plausible explanation for its failure to comply with the order. But the judge said the airline had raised real and substantial questions about Garuda's legal and financial capacity to pay the penalty. The penalty was imposed for contravening the Trade Practices Act through "understandings" Garuda had with other international airlines to impose various pre-determined surcharges on the supply of air cargo services from overseas ports to Australian ports.<br/>
sky
Alitalia said Wednesday it would increase its flights by 36% next month as countries ease coronavirus travel restrictions. The Italian airline, which is set to be nationalised, plans to resume on June 2 flights between Rome and New York as well as certain flights to Spain. Along with some additional domestic flights, it will represent a 36 percent increase in operations from May and mean the airline is operating 30 flights between 25 airports, including 10 abroad. From July it plans to be operating at about 40% of its level it planned before the coronavirus crisis hit. "Flight offering will increase according to the trend in demand, which is already recovering on some domestic routes, and benefiting from the progressive abolition by foreign countries of restrictions on flights and passengers from Italy" as well as relaxed measures Italy is imposing on inbound travellers, it said. Alitalia said did not cut back its flight schedule as much as some rivals in order to maintain essential services.<br/>