This class action relates to allegations that the defendants unlawfully conspired to fix prices of air cargo shipping services on shipments to/from Canada between January 2000 and September 2006. Surcharges are extra fees charged by airlines to their shipping customers above and beyond basic rates. Surcharges are typically priced by weight or volume, with the intent of defraying certain external costs of the carriers. This price fixing case relates to fuel and security surcharges.
Settlements reached in Air Cargo shipping services class action
The class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of person(s) who purchased air cargo shipping services direct from an airline or indirectly through a freight forwarder. Settlements have now been reached on the matter, resolving the claims without the need for further litigation. The settlements provide benefits to eligible class members, who may be entitled to receive compensation if they meet the settlement criteria. The claims deadline has now passed, and payments in the second round of distribution will be issued in the coming weeks.
Developments
New Settlements Reached
Settlements have been achieved with the following defendants, totaling $16 million:
- British Airways PLC (CDN$9,000,000)
- Air Canada (CDN$7,000,000)
The settlements have been approved by the courts in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec.
For more information about the Air Cargo settlements please click here.
The deadline to apply for compensation from the settlements has passed. The Claims Administrator is reviewing the claims received and will contact you if further information is required.
Previous Settlements Reached
Settlements have been achieved with the following defendants, totalling approximately $29.6 million:
- Deutsche Lufthansa AG, Lufthansa Cargo AG, and Swiss International Air Lines Ltd. (US$5,338,000; CDN$6,243,307.26)
- Japan Airlines International Co. Ltd. (CDN$738,000)
- Scandinavian Airlines System (CDN$300,000)
- Qantas Airways Limited (CDN$237,000)
- Cargolux Airline International (CDN$1,800,000)
- Singapore Airlines Ltd and Singapore Airlines Cargo PTE Ltd. (CDN$1,050,000)
- Société Air France, Koninklijke Luchtvaart Maatschappij N.V. dba KLM, Royal Dutch Airlines and Martinair Holland N.V. (CDN$6,500,000)
- LAN Airlines S.A. and LAN Cargo S.A (CDN$700,000)
- Polar Air Cargo LLC f/k/a Polar Air Cargo Inc. (CDN$425,000)
- Asiana Airlines Inc. (CDN$1,500,000)
- Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd. (CDN$4,100,000)
- Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. (CDN$6,000,000)
The class action settlements for the Air Cargo lawsuit have been approved by the courts in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec.
The deadline for applying for money from these settlements has passed. The settlement funds have been distributed to approved claimants.
FAQs
For answers to common questions about class actions in Canada, such as timelines, eligibility, and settlement information, please visit our Class Action Lawsuit FAQ page.
Documents
New Settlements
- Notice of Claims Process (English) (French)
- Distribution Protocol - Second Distribution
- British Airways Settlement Agreement
- Air Canada Settlement Agreement
Previous Settlements
For documents relating to the previous Air Cargo settlements, please click here.
- Distribution Protocol - First Distribution
- Notice of Settlement Approval and Claims Process
- Avis d’Approbation des Règlements et du Processus de Réclamation