Qantas makes $105m settlement in COVID-19 flight credit class action
Qantas will pay $105 million to settle a class action over flight credits issued for cancelled flights during the COVID-19 pandemic.Summary
Qantas has reached a $105 million settlement in a class action lawsuit concerning flight credits issued to customers whose flights were cancelled between January 1, 2020, and November 1, 2022, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit, filed by Echo Law in August 2023, alleged that Qantas breached its contractual obligations by offering restricted flight credits instead of cash refunds. According to Echo Law partner Andrew Paull, the settlement will provide compensation to “hundreds of thousands” of affected customers.
Under the terms of the settlement, eligible customers can now seek compensation in addition to any existing refund rights. The parties will request court approval to directly notify affected customers about the settlement and how to claim their share. Qantas stated the agreement was made without admitting liability.
In August 2023, Qantas had already removed expiry dates on COVID-19 flight credits, allowing customers to request cash refunds indefinitely. This settlement further addresses the concerns of customers who were initially offered credits instead of refunds for cancelled flights.
(Source：PerthNow)