Air Canada, British Airways Freight Price Fixing $16M Class Action Settlement

Air Canada and British Airways agreed to a $16 million settlement to resolve allegations they worked together to fix the price of air cargo freight services.

The settlements benefit individuals who purchased airfreight shipping services between Jan. 1, 2000, and Sept. 11, 2006. 

Eligible airfreight shipping services include air cargo shipments within, to, or from Canada, not including shipments to or from the United States. Air cargo shipments in which freight traveled by truck from Canada to the United States and then by air from the United States to a third country or shipments which were received by air in the United States and then traveled by truck to Canada are included in the settlement.

A number of airlines, including Air Canada, provide airfreight services to companies. This allows companies to distribute their products to far-off locations. 

However, consumers may have overpaid for airfreight services in Canada, according to legal action against numerous airlines.

The airfreight antitrust class action lawsuit accused Air Canada, British Airways, Korean Airlines, Royal Dutch Airlines, Polar Air Cargo, and several other companies of working together to fix the price of airfreight shipping services in the early 2000s. 

As a result of this alleged scheme, consumers were forced to pay a higher price for airfreight services than they would have in a fair market, the class action lawsuit contends. According to plaintiffs in the case, Class Members suffered from financial injury as a result of the antitrust agreement.

British Airways and Air Canada haven’t admitted any wrongdoing but agreed to settle these allegations with payments totaling $16 million. 

Previous settlements in this case totaled $29.6 million and were distributed in January 2019.

Under the terms of the settlement, Class Members can recover a share of the settlement fund based on their position in the distribution chain, as follows:

• Direct purchaser shippers who purchased airfreight services directly from an air cargo carrier are awarded 100 percent shares. 
• Shippers who purchased airfreight services from a freight forwarder are awarded 75 percent shares. 
• Freight forwarders who purchased airfreight shipping services directly from an air cargo carrier and then resold these services to shippers are awarded 25 percent shares.
• Freight forwarders who provided customer information in the first settlement distribution are awarded 35 percent shares.

Class Members may fall into more than one category. 

Based on each claimant’s classification and how much they paid for airfreight services, they will receive a proportional share of the settlement fund. 

All valid claims will be assigned a minimum value of $20, according to the settlement agreement.

In order to receive a payment from the air cargo settlement, Class Members must submit a valid claim form by July 4, 2022. 

Claims may require documentation such as invoices, receipts, and other records.

Who’s Eligible

The settlements benefit individuals who purchased airfreight shipping services between Jan. 1, 2000, and Sept. 11, 2006.

Potential Award

Varies.

Proof of Purchase

Claims may require documentation such as invoices, receipts, and other records.

Claim Form

NOTE: If you do not qualify for this settlement do NOT file a claim.

Remember: you are submitting your claim under penalty of perjury. You are also harming other eligible Class Members by submitting a fraudulent claim. If you’re unsure if you qualify, please read the FAQ section of the Settlement Administrator’s website to ensure you meet all standards (Top Class Actions is not a Settlement Administrator). If you don’t qualify for this settlement, check out our database of other open class action settlements you may be eligible for.

Claim Form Deadline

07/04/2022

Case Name

Airia Brands, et al. v. Air Canada, et al., Court File No. 50389CP in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice
Karen McKay v. Air Canada, et al., Court File No. S067490 Vancouver Registry, in the Supreme Court of British Columbia
Cartise Sports Inc. v. Air Canada, Case No. 500-06-000344-065 in Superior Court of Quebec, District of Montreal

Final Hearing

N/A

Settlement Website

AirCargoSettlement2.com

Claims Administrator

Epiq Class Action and Claims Solutions, Inc.
administrator@aircargosettlement2.com
888-291-9655 (U.S. and Canada)
614-553-1296 (International)

Class Counsel

Charles Wright
Linda J. Visser
SISKINDS LLP

David Jones
CAMP FIORANTE MATTHEWS MOGERMAN LLP

Moe F. Liebman
LIEBMAN LEGAL INC

Defense Counsel

Katherine Kay
Danielle Royal
STIKEMAN ELLIOTT LLP

David Neave
Rebecca von Rüti
DLA PIPER (CANADA) LLP