YEREVAN, OCTOBER 17, NOYAN TAPAN. At the October 17 sitting, the RA State Commission on Protection of Economic Competition discussed the issue of Armenia International Airports (AIA) company's abusing its dominating position. The commission conducted studies in the aviation fuel market and revealed that AIA sold aviation fuel at unreasonably high and discriminatory prices. Then the commission initiated proceedings within the framework of the work of the CIS Interstate Council for Antimonopoly Policy. It was stated at the sitting that in accordance with the application that AIA filed in March 2008, the commission established a reasonable difference between aviation fuel purchase and sale prices: in case of purchasing a ton for 1,164 dollars, AIA might add 141 dollars during the sale, which was an acceptable amount for the company as well. Under a decision of the commission, any change in the price was to be considered as unfounded. By data published by the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the average international price paid to refineries was 1,106 dollars as of September 12, 2008, and 1,019 dollars as of September 26. By AIA's information, the sale price of a ton of aviation fuel at Zvartnots Airport made 487,708 drams (about 1,625 dollars) in July. During the proceedings, it came to light, the difference (margin) between the purchase and sale prices of a ton of aviation fuel made 265 dollars in July and 212 dollars in August - instead of the established margin of 141 dollars. In the opinion of the commission experts, AIA has violated the requirements of the commission's decision on establishment of a margin, as well as abused its dominating position. It was envisaged that at the sitting the commission will make a decision on fining the company in the amount of 2% of its 2007's revenues, but not over 300 million drams. However, AIA's representative asked the commission to give them time in order to present additional arguments and reasons and to prepare for the issue's discussion. The commission postponed the discussion for a month.

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