Qantas to cough up $80m over price-fixing

Airline Qantas Airways will have to fork out about US$61 million ($80 million) following a settlement with the United States Government over price-fixing involving its freight division.

The airline said it had entered a plea agreement over illegal conduct involving fuel surcharges in the international cargo market between 2000 and 2006. But Qantas chief executive Geoff Dixon signalled there could be further investigations.

Qantas has said it is under investigation in New Zealand, but the Commerce Commission would not comment.