The Antitrust Lens on the Dolomiti SuperSki Consortium
Some articles of the feder-consortium statute seem to implement two important restrictions of competition
2' min read
2' min read
A competition-restricting agreement to define the prices of area ski passes and the relevant sales policy. This is what is alleged to have been implemented by the 'Federation of Area Consortia of Passenger Transport Operators Dolomiti SuperSki' and its twelve member Consortia operating cableways in Cortina d'Ampezzo, S. Vito di Cadore, Auronzo/Misurina; Consorzio Skirama Plan de Corones - Kronplatz; Consorzio impianti a fune Alta Badia; Consorzio esercenti impianti a fune Val Gardena - Alpe di Siusi; Consorzio impianti a fune Val di Fassa e Carezza; Consorzio esercenti il trasporto di persone a impianti a fune Alpe Lusia - San Pellegrino; Consorzio impianti a fune Civetta; Consorzio impianti a fune Arabba - Marmolada; Consorzio 3 Zinnen Dolomites; Consorzio impianti a fune Val di Fiemme - Obereggen; Consorzio impianti a fune San Martino di Castrozza e Passo Rolle; Consorzio Rio Pusteria - Bressanone.
So the Antitrust Authority opened an investigation while yesterday the Authority's officials, with the help of the special Antitrust Nucleus of the Guardia di Finanza, carried out inspections in the offices of the Federconsorzio Dolomiti SuperSki and of the twelve area consortia adhering to it. Under the lens some articles of the Federconsorzio Dolomiti SuperSki statute because two important restrictions on competition seem to have been implemented: the first concerns the definition, within the Federconsorzio Dolomiti SuperSki, of the price of the ski passes of the area consortia; the second concerns the limits, again incumbent on the area consortia, on the sale of their ski passes through third parties.
According to Assoutenti, the cost of a day pass has risen from 67 euros in 2021 to 83 euros last season, an increase of 23.9%. These increases were also caused by the rise in energy bills and the higher costs of snowmaking, so much so that in the recent past the National Association of Ropeway Operators (Anef) claimed that due to the high consumption this equipment was an energy-intensive industry.
The Consortium's Reply
A note signed by Andy Varallo, president of Consorzio Superski, confirms the willingness to "collaborate with the utmost willingness, transparency and sense of responsibility with Agcm, providing maximum support to the activities underway. In full respect of the work of the Authority at this stage no comment will be made on the investigation, except to reiterate firmly that the Dolomiti Superski model has been a virtuous example of consortium activity for over 50 years. This model has contributed in a decisive manner to the sustainable development and prosperity of a vast alpine territory, embracing three provinces and two regions, generating economic, social and tourism value for the entire community".
