British Airways/Virgin Price-Fixing Trial (2010)

William Boyce QC was instructed on behalf of a Director of British Airways plc, while Adrian Darbishire represented the company's former Head of Communications.

The accused, along with two others, denied an allegation that they agreed with Virgin Atlantic to fix the price of transatlantic flights.

The case, brought and prosecuted by the OFT, was the first trial of a charge under the cartel offence (section 188, Enterprise Act). 

The defence had argued that no agreement to fix prices had existed and no crime had been committed. 

On Monday 10 May 2010, before any evidence was called, the prosecution offered no evidence and all defendants were acquitted. 

In the words of the trial judge, Mr Justice Owen, each of the four men left court "with his reputation unsullied."

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