Koltsovo Airport of Yekaterinburg had been refusing some airlines ground handling and airport services with no good reason for doing so, Moscow District Federal Arbitration Court ruled on October 12, 2009. This ruling supported the earlier verdict of the Federal Antimonopoly Service.

The Service declared on September 19, 2008 that Koltsovo Airport had violated Article 10 of the Federal Competition Protection Act by abusing its dominant position on the market. The airport was accused of refusing to sign ground handling and airport services agreements with a number of airlines. As Koltsovo is a natural monopoly on Yekaterinburg’s airport market, its unjustified refusal actually violated the federal legislation, limited competition, and infringed on the airlines’ interests.

The airport appealed against the FAS’s ruling in Moscow Arbitration Court as well as in appeals instance and the court of errors. All the court ruled in favor of the FAS’s decision.