Qantas COVID pandemic flight credits could be on their way to customers this year
Qantas has agreed to a $105 million settlement for a class action regarding flight credits from cancelled flights during the COVID-19 pandemic.Summary
Qantas has reached a $105 million settlement regarding a class action lawsuit filed in August 2023 concerning flight credits issued for flights cancelled between January 2020 and November 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lawsuit alleged that Qantas breached contractual obligations by not offering refunds. While Qantas admits no liability, the settlement exceeds the $55 million previously provisioned. Analysts suggest Qantas avoided a potentially more costly court loss with this agreement. Former CEO Alan Joyce had previously stated that customers could request refunds at any time, acknowledging issues with the initial credit system. The settlement, if approved by the Federal Court, is expected to see affected customers receive funds by the end of the year, and is seen as a positive step in the airline’s turnaround strategy under new CEO Vanessa Hudson, helping to distance the company from the Alan Joyce era. The settlement covers bookings up to September 31, 2021.
(Source：ABC (Australian Broadcasting Corporation))