New Zealand national carrier Air New Zealand said that charges that it was part of price fixing in air cargo services had been dropped by the European Commission. It said it was one of 11 airlines that had had the charges against them dropped.

"This brings closure to one more part of the ongoing investigations and proceedings which commenced in February 2006," the airline said.

Earlier 11 airlines, including Air France-KLM and British Airways , were fined a total of 799 million euros ($1.11 billion) by EU regulators in the price-fixing case that could open the way for private claims against the companies. (Reuters)