The European Commission has closed its antitrust investigation into Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp after the company amended contractual clauses linked to turboprop aircraft engine spare parts in the European Economic Area.
The case concerned Pratt & Whitney, described by the Commission in a release on Friday as the main supplier of turboprop aircraft engines in the EEA, and whether its contracts could have restricted competition from independent spare parts suppliers.
The Commission examined whether Pratt & Whitney may have been limiting access to used engine cores and certification services needed by so-called used serviceable material (USM) suppliers — companies that take apart used engines to recover parts and sell them for repairs and maintenance.
USM suppliers need used engine cores to dismantle and rebuild their stocks of spare parts, and they also need certification services that confirm a part is airworthy and can be reused.
The Commission said Pratt & Whitney may have restricted competition by limiting the ability of maintenance shops in its network to sell used engine cores or provide certification services to USM suppliers.
Contract changes
After exchanges with the Commission, Pratt & Whitney amended its agreements to remove the restrictions under investigation and clarified that maintenance shops are not prevented from buying USM from other suppliers.
Following its analysis and assessment of evidence, the Commission concluded the concerns it investigated had been addressed and said further action was no longer considered a priority at EU level.
Pratt & Whitney has also made a public announcement on its website describing the changes to its contractual clauses.
The Commission said the closure of the investigation is not a finding that the conduct complied with EU competition rules.
