Cathay Pacific Fined for Air Cargo Surcharge Conspiracy
Several airlines have paid big fines for fixing surcharges for air cargo
Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. pleaded guilty to fixing navigation surcharges imposed on international air cargo shipments to and from Canada and was fined $1.5 million.
Cathay Pacific was the eighth airline to plead guilty in the air cargo case. Including Cathay Pacific’s fine, the Competition Bureau has collected over $24 million in fines following guilty pleas from British Airways, KLM, Air France, Korean Airlines, Cargolux, Martinair and Qantas.
Several airlines have also settled class actions, for a total to date of over $16 million. Settling airlines include Luftansa, Japan Airlines, SAS, Qantas, Singapore Airlines, and Air France.
The following table summarizes the class action settlements and fines to date:
Parties(defendants to class actions) | Class Action Settlements$million | Fines$million |
| Luftansa | 5.338 | |
| Japan Airlines | 0.738 | |
| SAS | 0.3 | |
| Qantas | 0.237 | 0.155 |
| Cargolux | 1.8 | 2.5 |
| Singapore | 1.05 | |
| Air France | 6.5 | 4 |
| LAN | 0.7 | |
| Cathay Pacific | 1.5 | |
| KLM | 5 | |
| Martinair | 1 | |
| British Airways | 4.5 | |
| Korean Airlines | 5.5 | |
| Air Canada | ||
| Asiana Airlines | ||
| Atlas Air Worldwide | ||
| Polar Air Cargo | ||
| Swiss International Airlines | ||
| Totals | 16.663 | 24.155 |
