Info class action
British Airways & Virgin Atlantic Airways
In May 2004, using the increases of oil prices as a pretext, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic Airways introduced a new component to their fare for the transport of passengers: the fuel surcharge. Despite its name, this surcharge is not a tax, nor a fee or charge imposed by a governmental body or third party. It is an amount collected by British Airways and by Virgin Atlantic Airways on top of the price of the plane ticket.
The two air carriers admitted having discussed on several occasions in order to set the level of the surcharge between August 2004 and February 2006, inclusively. Thus, because of the cartel, the price of the surcharge rose from approximately $6 in August 2004 to $60 in February 2006. This amounts to a near 1000 % increase in a period of a year and a half.
Option consommateurs believes that the cartel set up by the two air carriers had the effect to artificially inflate the price of the tickets bought by the members of the group. The class action aims mainly at obtaining the reimbursement of the part of the fuel surcharge that was unjustly paid by the members of the group.
The Members
You are a member of this class action if, between the months of August 2004 and February 2006, you bought in Québec a plane ticket for a British Airways’ or Virgin Atlantic Airways’ long-haul flight. If you are a member of this class action, we invite you to fill out Option consommateurs’ online form and to keep your proof of purchase.
Option consommateurs is represented by the law firm Belleau Lapointe, LLP.
Chronology
July 2009
Option consommateurs joins the class action as Petitioner.
August 2007
Filing of the Motion for authorization to institute a class action.