Deputy Chairman of the Agency for the Protection and Development of Competition (APDC) Bolat Sambetov revealed details of the investigation into the airline Fly Arystan.
According to Zakon.kz, at the end of last year the APDC monitored the company's service prices following numerous complaints regarding price increases and the quality of passenger air travel.
"Based on the monitoring results, signs of a violation were identified. Quite recently, we opened an investigation into the airline Fly Arystan, also on grounds of monopolistically high prices. The investigation is currently underway. If we establish a violation as a result of the investigation, appropriate response measures will be taken," added Sambetov.
According to him, a check into the justification of prices on certain routes is currently being conducted.
"We check, first identifying through analysis that it holds a dominant position, which means it can influence trading conditions, and the market as a whole. We then identify that it has the highest price. Its justification is subsequently checked. That is what constitutes a monopoly high price," the statement reads.
Sambetov noted that if the violation is confirmed, the airline will be subject to an administrative fine.
"The fine is 5% of turnover, plus confiscation to the budget of the unjustified difference between what a justified price should be and what has been deemed unjustified. And, of course, an order to reduce prices," he emphasised.
Recall that in December 2023, the APDC conducted an investigation into the airline Air Astana. At that time, a court decision brought the company to administrative liability for more than 876 million tenge for abusing its monopoly position in the air transport market.