Qantas Airways and British Airways have agreed to pay a combined fine of $15.5 million (equivalent Australian $25 million) to “charges price-fixing charges brought
by Australia’s Competition and Consumer Commission“. The price fixing charges were related to fuel surcharges applied to International Cargo shipments from 2002 to early 2006.
Qantas will pay around $12.2 million (Australian $20 million) while British Airways will have to pay the rest of A $5 million.
From Bloomberg -
“Qantas apologizes unreservedly for the conduct of the
employees involved,” the airline said in a statement. Once the
agreement is accepted by the court, the liability for Qantas and
its current employees will be settled, the airline said.
BA has paid a total of $677 million in fines and class-
action settlements related to price-fixing investigations by
U.K. and U.S. regulators into fuel surcharges on cargo and
passenger flights. The European Union also is investigating
cargo-related antitrust violations.
