BRUSSELS, March 11 (Xinhua) -- European Union (EU) antitrust inspectors on Tuesday raided the premises of a number of international airlines for possible price-fixing on Europe-Japan flights.

    "These carriers provide scheduled passenger air transport services on long-haul routes between Europe and a third country," the European Commission said in a statement, without disclosing the airlines targeted and the third country, which is usual practice.

    The Commission said the unannounced inspections were carried out since it was believed that the companies concerned may have violated EU antitrust rules, but they would not prejudge the outcome of the investigation.

    German carrier Lufthansa and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, a unit of Europe's largest airline group, Air France-KLM, confirmed that their offices in Frankfurt and Amsterdam had been raided.

    A spokeswoman for KLM said the inspections concern "possible anti-competitive behavior regarding passenger services on routes from Europe to Japan."

    Jonathan Todd, a spokesman for the EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, said the investigation would not be limited to European airlines.

    There is no strict deadline to complete inquiries in price-fixing cases under EU rules, the Commission said.