Inside Qantas’ AU$120 Million Settlement for ‘Ghost Flight’ Sales What Travelers Need to Know

Post originally Published May 10, 2024 || Last Updated May 10, 2024

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Inside Qantas' AU$120 Million Settlement for 'Ghost Flight' Sales What Travelers Need to Know - Qantas' Staggering AU$120 Million Settlement for Misleading Ticket Sales


Qantas has agreed to a staggering AU$120 million settlement with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over the sale of tickets for cancelled flights, known as "ghost flights." The settlement includes a AU$100 million penalty and AU$20 million in compensation for the 86,000 affected customers.

This agreement is seen as a step towards rebuilding trust and protecting consumers from further misleading conduct by the airline.

The AU$120 million settlement between Qantas and the Australian Consumer Commission (ACCC) is one of the largest penalties ever imposed on an Australian company for misleading conduct.

The settlement includes a AU$100 million penalty, which is the second-highest civil penalty ever imposed in Australia under consumer law, underscoring the severity of Qantas' actions.

Qantas will pay between AU$225 and AU$450 to each of the 86,000 customers affected by the "ghost flight" ticket sales, a significant compensation effort to make amends with its customer base.

The "ghost flight" issue highlighted Qantas' questionable practices, as the airline defended selling tickets for flights that had already been cancelled, a concerning admission that could have lasting reputational damage.

The settlement is subject to Federal Court approval, indicating the legal complexities involved in resolving this high-profile case and the need for judicial oversight.

The magnitude of the penalty and compensation package showcases the ACCC's determination to hold large corporations accountable for misleading consumers, setting a precedent for future cases involving deceptive airline practices.

What else is in this post?

  1. Inside Qantas' AU$120 Million Settlement for 'Ghost Flight' Sales What Travelers Need to Know - Qantas' Staggering AU$120 Million Settlement for Misleading Ticket Sales
  2. Inside Qantas' AU$120 Million Settlement for 'Ghost Flight' Sales What Travelers Need to Know - Unpacking the 'Ghost Flight' Scandal - What Went Wrong?
  3. Inside Qantas' AU$120 Million Settlement for 'Ghost Flight' Sales What Travelers Need to Know - Compensating Passengers - How the Settlement Will Work
  4. Inside Qantas' AU$120 Million Settlement for 'Ghost Flight' Sales What Travelers Need to Know - Ensuring Transparency - Qantas' Commitment to Accountability
  5. Inside Qantas' AU$120 Million Settlement for 'Ghost Flight' Sales What Travelers Need to Know - Rebuilding Trust - The Road Ahead for Australia's Flagship Carrier
  6. Inside Qantas' AU$120 Million Settlement for 'Ghost Flight' Sales What Travelers Need to Know - Lessons Learned - Preventing Future Misconduct in the Aviation Industry

Inside Qantas' AU$120 Million Settlement for 'Ghost Flight' Sales What Travelers Need to Know - Unpacking the 'Ghost Flight' Scandal - What Went Wrong?


The "ghost flight" scandal has dealt a significant blow to Qantas' reputation, with the airline admitting to selling tickets for flights that had already been cancelled.

The massive AU$120 million settlement, including a AU$100 million penalty and compensation payments, highlights the severity of Qantas' actions and the Australian regulator's resolve to hold corporations accountable for misleading consumers.

The "ghost flight" scandal involved Qantas selling over 8,000 tickets for flights that had already been cancelled, stranding thousands of passengers.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) accused Qantas of deceptive marketing practices, leading to the record-breaking AU$120 million settlement.

The settlement includes a AU$100 million penalty, the second-highest civil penalty ever imposed in Australia under consumer law, underscoring the severity of Qantas' actions.

Qantas will pay between AU$225 and AU$450 to each of the 86,000 affected customers, a significant compensation effort to make amends with its customer base.

The settlement agreement awaits Federal Court approval, highlighting the legal complexities involved in resolving this high-profile case.

The magnitude of the penalty and compensation package showcases the ACCC's determination to hold large corporations accountable for misleading consumers, setting a precedent for future cases involving deceptive airline practices.

Qantas has defended its actions, claiming that it acted reasonably and that the ACCC does not understand the reality of the airline industry, raising questions about the airline's perspective on its own conduct.

Inside Qantas' AU$120 Million Settlement for 'Ghost Flight' Sales What Travelers Need to Know - Compensating Passengers - How the Settlement Will Work


Inside Qantas’ AU$120 Million Settlement for ‘Ghost Flight’ Sales What Travelers Need to Know

Under the AU$120 million settlement with the Australian regulator, Qantas will pay between AU$225 and AU$450 to each of the 86,000 affected customers who booked flights that had already been cancelled.

The compensation effort is seen as a significant step by Qantas to make amends with its customer base following the "ghost flight" scandal, where the airline was accused of deceptive marketing practices.

Details on the specific eligibility criteria and compensation process for impacted passengers have not yet been released, but the settlement awaits Federal Court approval.

The settlement covers over 86,000 customers who made bookings on flights that were cancelled more than 2 days after the decision was made, a surprising scale of the affected travelers.

Affected customers will receive between AU$225 for domestic flights and AU$450 for international flights, in addition to any refund or Qantas' previous compensation, a substantial payout per passenger.

Qantas has set aside over AU$120 million to settle the lawsuit, one of the largest penalties ever imposed on an Australian company for misleading conduct, highlighting the severity of the issue.

The settlement includes a AU$100 million penalty, the second-highest civil penalty ever imposed in Australia under consumer law, underscoring the ACCC's determination to hold Qantas accountable.

The AU$20 million remediation program is a significant effort by Qantas to compensate the 86,000 impacted passengers, reflecting the airline's acknowledgement of the scale of the problem.

Qantas has admitted to misleading travelers by selling seats on thousands of cancelled flights, a surprising move that could have lasting reputational damage for the airline.

The settlement agreement is subject to Federal Court approval, indicating the legal complexities involved in resolving this high-profile case and the need for judicial oversight.

The magnitude of the penalty and compensation package showcases the ACCC's determination to hold large corporations accountable for misleading consumers, setting a potential precedent for future cases involving deceptive airline practices.

Inside Qantas' AU$120 Million Settlement for 'Ghost Flight' Sales What Travelers Need to Know - Ensuring Transparency - Qantas' Commitment to Accountability


Qantas has emphasized its compliance with regulatory requirements and transparent reporting practices, which will be closely scrutinized in the wake of this high-profile case.

Qantas' AU$120 million settlement with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is one of the largest penalties ever imposed on an Australian company for misleading conduct, highlighting the severity of the airline's actions.

The settlement includes a AU$100 million penalty, which is the second-highest civil penalty ever imposed in Australia under consumer law, underscoring the ACCC's resolve to hold Qantas accountable.

Qantas will pay between AU$225 and AU$450 to each of the 86,000 affected customers, a significant compensation effort to make amends with its customer base.

The settlement covers over 86,000 customers who made bookings on flights that were cancelled more than 2 days after the decision was made, revealing the surprising scale of the affected travelers.

Qantas admitted to selling tickets for flights that had already been cancelled, a concerning practice that could have lasting reputational damage for the airline.

The settlement agreement awaits Federal Court approval, highlighting the legal complexities involved in resolving this high-profile case and the need for judicial oversight.

The magnitude of the penalty and compensation package showcases the ACCC's determination to hold large corporations accountable for misleading consumers, setting a potential precedent for future cases involving deceptive airline practices.

Qantas has defended its actions, claiming that it acted reasonably and that the ACCC does not understand the reality of the airline industry, raising questions about the airline's perspective on its own conduct.

The "ghost flight" scandal has dealt a significant blow to Qantas' reputation, with the airline admitting to deceptive marketing practices, which could have long-term consequences for the airline's credibility with consumers.

Inside Qantas' AU$120 Million Settlement for 'Ghost Flight' Sales What Travelers Need to Know - Rebuilding Trust - The Road Ahead for Australia's Flagship Carrier


Inside Qantas’ AU$120 Million Settlement for ‘Ghost Flight’ Sales What Travelers Need to Know

Qantas faces significant challenges in rebuilding trust with the public following the "ghost flight" scandal and other past issues.

New CEO Vanessa Hudson must address these concerns and restore faith in the Qantas brand, as the airline undergoes a major fleet renewal process and works to enhance the passenger experience.

However, labor unions have expressed skepticism about Qantas' ability to address its operational challenges and regain the trust of its customers.

Qantas' AU$120 million settlement with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is one of the largest penalties ever imposed on an Australian company for misleading conduct, highlighting the severity of the airline's actions.

The settlement includes a AU$100 million penalty, which is the second-highest civil penalty ever imposed in Australia under consumer law, underscoring the ACCC's resolve to hold Qantas accountable.

Qantas will pay between AU$225 and AU$450 to each of the 86,000 affected customers, a significant compensation effort to make amends with its customer base.

The settlement covers over 86,000 customers who made bookings on flights that were cancelled more than 2 days after the decision was made, revealing the surprising scale of the affected travelers.

Qantas admitted to selling tickets for flights that had already been cancelled, a concerning practice that could have lasting reputational damage for the airline.

The settlement agreement awaits Federal Court approval, highlighting the legal complexities involved in resolving this high-profile case and the need for judicial oversight.

The magnitude of the penalty and compensation package showcases the ACCC's determination to hold large corporations accountable for misleading consumers, setting a potential precedent for future cases involving deceptive airline practices.

Qantas has defended its actions, claiming that it acted reasonably and that the ACCC does not understand the reality of the airline industry, raising questions about the airline's perspective on its own conduct.

The "ghost flight" scandal has dealt a significant blow to Qantas' reputation, with the airline admitting to deceptive marketing practices, which could have long-term consequences for the airline's credibility with consumers.

The settlement is seen as a step towards rebuilding trust and protecting consumers from further misleading conduct by the airline, as Qantas faces significant public trust issues stemming from past scandals and operational challenges.

Inside Qantas' AU$120 Million Settlement for 'Ghost Flight' Sales What Travelers Need to Know - Lessons Learned - Preventing Future Misconduct in the Aviation Industry


The Qantas "ghost flight" scandal has prompted discussions on improved industry practices and regulations to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Airlines are expected to enhance transparency and communication with passengers, particularly during periods of significant travel disruptions, to rebuild consumer trust.

The magnitude of Qantas' $120 million settlement serves as a wake-up call for the aviation industry, underscoring the need for stronger accountability measures to protect travelers from misleading practices.

The Qantas "ghost flight" scandal resulted in one of the largest penalties ever imposed on an Australian company, with a AU$120 million settlement, including a AU$100 million penalty.

The AU$100 million penalty is the second-highest civil penalty ever imposed in Australia under consumer law, underscoring the severity of Qantas' misconduct.

Qantas admitted to misleading consumers by selling tickets for over 8,000 flights that had already been cancelled, affecting tens of thousands of passengers.

The settlement covers over 86,000 customers who made bookings on flights that were cancelled more than 2 days after the decision was made, revealing the surprising scale of the affected travelers.

Qantas will pay between AU$225 and AU$450 to each of the 86,000 affected customers, a significant compensation effort to make amends with its customer base.

The "ghost flight" scandal has dealt a significant blow to Qantas' reputation, with the airline's long-serving predecessor, Alan Joyce, bringing forward his retirement following the ACCC's lawsuit.

Qantas' new CEO, Vanessa Hudson, has acknowledged the airline's past failures and committed to updating technology and processes to prevent similar misconduct in the future.

The settlement agreement is subject to Federal Court approval, highlighting the legal complexities involved in resolving this high-profile case and the need for judicial oversight.

Labor unions have expressed skepticism about Qantas' ability to address its operational challenges and regain the trust of its customers, despite the airline's efforts.

The magnitude of the penalty and compensation package showcases the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) determination to hold large corporations accountable for misleading consumers, setting a potential precedent for future cases.

Qantas has defended its actions, claiming that it acted reasonably and that the ACCC does not understand the reality of the airline industry, raising questions about the airline's perspective on its own conduct.

See how everyone can now afford to fly Business Class and book 5 Star Hotels with Mighty Travels Premium! Get started for free.