Uber CEO must face price-fixing lawsuit from passengers, US court rules

Antitrust suit claims Travis Kalanick organized price fixing among drivers: 'Today's decision confirms that apps are not exempt from the antitrust laws'

Travis Kalanick, the chief executive of Uber, has failed to win the dismissal of an antitrust lawsuit accusing him of scheming to drive up prices for passengers who use the popular ride-hailing service.

District judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan said on Thursday that Kalanick must face claims he conspired with drivers to ensure they charge prices set by an algorithm in the Uber smartphone app to hail rides, including "surge pricing" during periods of peak demand.