The infringement proceeding PRC 2005/20 was opened by the Competition Authority Board on 23.06.2005, regarding a possible breach of Article 4 of Law 18/2003, of 11th June.
This investigation analysed the practices adopted by the companies AERONORTE - Transportes Aéreos, S.A. and Helisul - Sociedade de Meios Aéreos, Lda., which could constitute a horizontal restriction by agreement in a public tender. The companies involved entered into a consortium in a public tender for the supply of aerial means for fighting forest fires, which had the effect of reducing the number of competitors, which could lead to artificially high prices and the limitation and distribution of the sources of supply and of the supply of the products in question.
On 24.10.2007 the Competition Authority Board adopted a condemnatory decision.
The decision of the Competition Authority was challenged in court, and the court found the defendants not guilty.