Australia's Qantas to pay $79 million to settle ‘ghost flights' case

Sydney-based airline Qantas has reached a settlement in a lawsuit involving the sale of tickets for canceled flights. The company has agreed to pay AUD 120 million ($79 million), with AUD 20 million being split between over 86,000 affected customers. In addition, Qantas will pay a fine of AUD 100 million to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). This settlement will put an end to a reputational crisis for the airline. The fine is the largest ever for an Australian airline and serves as a strong deterrent for other companies. The court’s approval is still pending for the settlement.