Air New Zealand has been involved in a series of cargo cartel cases in several countries for the past decade and still faces two class actions in the United States, one in relation to freight pricing and a second alleging it had acted anti-competitively with fares and surcharges on trans-Pacific routes.
Those, and the Australian case, are listed as contingent liabilities in the airline's financial statements.
ACCC chairman Rod Sims said: "The air cargo case is a very significant one for the ACCC, as it involved a substantial number of airlines engaging in price-fixing conduct around the world.
"Although it is no longer a requirement of our cartel laws that it be established that price-fixing occurred in a market in Australia, this decision is significant because it confirms the ACCC's view that the conduct by the airlines in fixing air cargo surcharges to be paid by Australian importers and ultimately passed on to Australian consumers, were caught by Australian competition laws."
Air New Zealand paid $8 million in a fine and costs in 2013 to settle a long-running case brought in this country by the Commerce Commission over cargo price fixing.
Worldwide airlines have paid hundreds of millions following cases centred on claims airlines collaborated to fix prices, partly attributed to fuel surcharges and security charges.
Air New Zealand shares closed up 1c at $2.88 yesterday.
Cargo case
Air NZ facing millions of dollars in penalties.
Airline one of two not to settle with Australian regulator.
A$98.5 million paid by other airlines that have settled.
Penalties range from A$5 million to up $20 million paid by Qantas.
Australian Federal Court ruling can be appealed.
