Australian Carrier Settles Class Action Suit Amid Consumer Rights Debate

Qantas has reached a settlement agreement with affected customers over its handling of refunds during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Australian carrier will pay $74 million to settle a class action lawsuit, which alleged that Qantas breached its contracts with customers by providing travel credits instead of cash refunds. The settlement covers flights cancelled between January 1, 2020, and November 1, 2022. Qantas had previously set aside $39 million for the matter, and the payment is expected to be made in the first half of FY27. The settlement was confirmed by Echo Law, which provided legal representation to affected customers, and was first reported by AeroTime.