Cargolux Secures $10.4M EU Payout Over Cartel Fine Interest
Cargolux has received EUR9.17 million (USD10.4 million) from the European Commission as part of a settlement over interest owed on annulled cartel fines. The payout was disclosed in draft amendments to the European Union’s 2025 general budget, published on April 9, 2025.
The Luxembourg-based cargo airline secured the compensation following an “amicable settlement” with the European Commission regarding the commission’s refusal to pay default interest on repaid fines and compound interest on the default amounts. Cargolux notified the General Court of the European Union of the agreement on January 10, 2025, leading to the case’s removal from the court register on February 5.
The dispute dates back to 2010, when the European Commission fined 11 air cargo carriers a combined EUR799 million (USD905 million) for coordinating fuel and security surcharges between 1999 and 2006. Cargolux was among those penalized, with a fine of EUR79.9 million (USD90.5 million). After legal appeals, the Commission readopted its decision in 2017, reaffirming the penalties.
Although the General Court dismissed Cargolux’s appeal to annul or reduce its fine in March 2022, the airline pursued further legal action to recover interest on the refunded fines. While the latest settlement covers the interest claim, Cargolux’s broader appeal against the fine remains pending before the Court of Justice of the European Union, the highest court in the EU legal system.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com