British Airways and Australian airline Qantas reached a combined US$15.6 million price-fixing settlement with Australian authorities on Oct. 28.

BA agreed to pay US$3.1 million and Qantas US$12.5 million to settle claims the companies fixed freight shipping prices, The Times of London reported.

Both airlines cooperated with Australian authorities in a case that has been the subject of fines and class action lawsuits in the United States and Britain.

Graeme Samuel, chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), said, "Both came forward and voluntarily made admissions under the ACCC's cooperation policy."

Qantas agreed to a US$61 million fine in the United States, where BA, Japan Airlines and Korean Air Lines have all pleaded guilty to charges of price fixing.

Japan Airlines has already paid a US$110 million fine, while BA and Korean Air Lines have paid fines of US$300 million, The Times reported.

"The airline has a long-standing competition compliance policy and it is highly regrettable that this policy was not adhered to in relation to fuel surcharges on the carriage of cargo," a BA spokesman said.