Trans-Pacific passengers urged to claim benefits

Trans-Pacific passengers urged to claim benefits

A California-based website has urged any travellers who have flown to the USA in the past 15 years to join a lawsuit against alleged airline price fixing on trans-Pacific routes.

Air New Zealand is amongst the five airlines listed on the AirlineSettlement.com website, which states “If You Bought an Airline Ticket Between the U.S. and Asia, Australia, New Zealand, or the Pacific Islands, You Could Receive Money from Class Action Settlements”.

Scoop NZ reports an advertisement was also published in New Zealand media this week to promote the website and urge locals to take up claims.

The paper reports the class action being defended in the US claims Air New Zealand and the other four airlines acted “anti-competitively” on fares and surcharges on trans-Pacific routes.

The US company behind the website has reportedly raised US$39.5 million (A$59.7m) in settlements with eight airlines including Cathay Pacific, Air France, Malaysia Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Qantas.

However, the lawsuit continues with the five airlines that chose not to settle including Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, EVA Airways, Philippines Airlines and China Airlines.

As per the report, the lawsuit claims “airlines agreed to fix prices on tickets for trans-Pacific air travel”.

An Air New Zealand spokesperson told the paper the proceedings were filed in 2007 and “the airline disclosed the existence of the claim in its annual accounts since then” the report stated.

According to the spokesperson, Air New Zealand conducted its own internal investigation and considers the claim to be “entirely opportunistic”.

Image: Wordswithwings

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