Qantas ‘sold flights it had already cancelled’ and didn’t tell ticketholders, alleges ACCC in legal action against the national carrier

Qantas is facing legal action as the consumer watchdog claims the national carrier has advertised tickets for 8,000 flights that have already been cancelled.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is taking proceedings in the Federal Court alleging that Qantas engaged in false, misleading or deceptive conduct after continuing to sell tickets for more than two weeks on average, and in some cases up to 47 days.

It is also alleged that the airline failed to inform existing ticket holders for 10,000 flights that they had been canceled for an average of 18 days and up to 48 days between May and July 2022.

As a result, customers had less time to make alternative arrangements, which may have resulted in them paying higher prices.

The ACCC said Qantas continued to sell tickets for the flights on its website for two days or more, notifying ticket holders that their flights for the same period had been canceled for about 70 percent of canceled flights.

Qantas canceled a quarter of its flights between May and July 2022, amounting to about 15,000, the watchdog said.

Chair Gina Cass-Gottlieb said the commission has conducted a detailed investigation into the airline.

“As a result, we initiated this proceeding alleging that Qantas continued to sell tickets for thousands of canceled flights, likely affecting the travel plans of tens of thousands of people,” she said.

“This case is not about an alleged violation of the actual cancellation of flights, but about the actions of Qantas after it canceled the flights.”

The ACCC demands fines, court orders, declarations and costs.