British Airways settles price fixing class action for $89.5 million

British Airways got final court approval for a settlement in a six-year-long class action lawsuit by shippers over the carriers’ involvement in a cartel that fixed fuel surcharges for air cargo.  Under the agreement, approved by a  court in New York, British Airways will pay $89.5 million.

Chile’s LAN cargo, Air Canada, El Al, Emirates, Saudi Arabian Airlines, South African Airways, and Malaysia Airlines will pay a combined $93 million.  This is the third settlement in the lawsuit and brings total payments so far to $485 million.

The lawsuit followed criminal investigations in the U.S., the European Union, Canada, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand into an alleged global price-fixing cartel in 2000-2006 involving more than 24 airlines.

The EU fined 11 airlines, including BA, Air France-KLM and Cargolux, $1.1 billion in 2010 for their role in the cartel.  The U.S. so far has fined more than 20 airlines more than $1.7 billion.

Steve Larson

An experienced trial lawyer who handles both hourly and contingent fee cases, Steve has expertise in class actions, environmental clean-up litigation, antitrust litigation, securities litigation, corporate disputes, intellectual property disputes, unfair competition claims, and disputes involving family wealth. Steve regularly represents individuals and businesses in federal and state court and has obtained class-wide recovery in multiple class actions. A veteran practitioner, Steve’s clients value his creative approach to resolving complex litigation matters.

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