Johannesburg - Liquidated Nationwide Airlines is claiming
R155m in damages from SA Airways for allegedly abusing its dominant position,
it was reported on Wednesday.
SAA was served with a summons by Nationwide over the
national carrier's alleged abuse of its dominant position by getting travel
agents to not sell domestic air tickets for competitors, Business Day reported.
This was Nationwide's second claim for damages after SAA was
found guilty of anticompetitive conduct by the Competition Tribunal.
The report quoted Lucinda Verster, a partner at legal firm
Bowman Gilfillan, representing Nationwide, as saying the airlines had settled
for an undisclosed amount outside court in the first case, covering the period
from 1999 to 2001.
In the current case, Verster said Nationwide had suffered
damages of R118.4m, but could claim interest for the damages incurred at a rate
of 15.5% a year. This amounted to R155m.
SAA had said it would defend the claim, according to the
report.
Nationwide was placed under final liquidation in 2008.