The Spanish Competition Authority dismisses a complaint brought by an online travel agent against an airlines company for vertical abuse of dominance through vertical restraints (eDreams Odigeo / IAG)

In May 2018, the Spanish Competition Authority ('CNMC'), dismissed a complaint brought by the online travel agent eDreams/Odigeo (“Odigeo”) against International Airlines Group (“IAG”), for alleged infringements of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU and its national equivalents under the Spanish Competition Act, i.e. Articles 1 and 2 of Law 15/2007 of 3 July. [1] Odigeo's claims concerned the Terms and Conditions (T&Cs) that were introduced by IAG in 2014 to regulate the relationship between travel agencies and IAG airlines. The purpose of the T&Cs is to ensure that IAG airlines’ flights and services are sold (and IAG airlines brands are used) by IATA accredited agents in accordance with IAG’s quality standards. Odigeo had brought a similar complaint before the Competition and Markets