Flight Centre wins court appeal over price fixing
Flight Centre has won its appeal against a 2013 fine of $11 million for price-fixing.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission took action against the company in Federal Court for breaching the Trade Practices Act but that has now been overturned with the ACCC ordered to pay Fight Centre’s legal costs.
In the original judgement a court found Flight Centre had prevented airlines from undercutting it on international air fares direct to consumers on six occasions between 2005 and 2009.
However the appeal court found the Act was not breached as airlines and travel agents were not in competition.
"We welcome today’s judgement and hope that it now brings this six-year saga to an end," said Flight Centre managing director Graham Turner.
"As an agent that provides considerable advice and help to the travelling public and extensive marketing for airlines, Flight Centre asks for appropriate commissions from suppliers and also reasonable access to all deals that they release to the market."
The $11 million fine will now be repaid to Flight Centre.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent