Published
March 7, 2025
Updated
August 1, 2026
The long-running Transpacific airline antitrust settlements paid three rounds to qualified claimants. The administrator says the January 2026 tertiary distribution was the last economically feasible claimant distribution.
Current Status
All claim and supplemental-information deadlines have passed. Initial payments went out March 17, 2022, a $5,191,987.33 secondary distribution was made June 27, 2025, and the tertiary distribution was made January 20, 2026. Tertiary checks became void after April 20, 2026. The administrator says there will be no further claimant distributions and that the limited residue is expected to be addressed through a court-approved cy pres process.StatusThird and Final Claimant Distribution Complete
Tertiary DistributionJanuary 20, 2026
Combined Settlements$147.402 Million
Historical ProofQualifying Ticket-Purchase Information
What Was the Transpacific Airline Case About?
Purchasers alleged that international airlines and alleged co-conspirators agreed to fix prices for passenger air travel between the United States and Asia or Oceania. The claims were brought under federal antitrust law and were consolidated in the Northern District of California. The settling airlines denied wrongdoing and entered the settlements without admitting liability. The litigation ultimately produced multiple approved settlements involving thirteen defendants.Which Airlines Funded the Settlements?
The historical settlement total of $147.402 million reflected contributions reported for Air France, Cathay Pacific Airways, Japan Airlines, Malaysian Airline System, Thai Airways, Vietnam Airlines, Qantas Airways, Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, China Airlines, EVA Airways, Philippine Airlines, and All Nippon Airways. The contributions differed substantially by airline, with All Nippon Airways contributing the largest amount. This combined figure was reduced by approved fees, expenses, administration, and the allocation process before claimant payments were calculated.Who Was Historically Eligible?
The settlement classes generally involved people and entities that purchased qualifying transpacific passenger tickets from defendant airlines for travel between the United States and Asia or Oceania during airline-specific periods beginning as early as January 1, 2000. Exact routes, ticket types, dates, and exclusions depended on the applicable settlement. Claimants had to file during the original claims process and provide ticket-purchase information or other requested support. No new claim may be filed now.What Happened in the Initial Distribution?
The administrator made the first distribution of net settlement funds to qualified claimants on March 17, 2022 under the court’s distribution order. Payment amounts were calculated from approved purchase information and the plan of allocation, rather than as one flat amount for every traveler. Initial checks that were not timely cashed became void. Cashing the initial check later became one requirement for participation in the secondary round.What Was the Secondary Distribution?
After further court proceedings, the administrator distributed $5,191,987.33 in remaining net funds on June 27, 2025. It sent secondary checks to class members who had cashed their initial checks and whose calculated secondary share was at least $10. The administrator also handled a small number of exceptional reissues described in court filings. The cashing period for the secondary checks ended in 2025.What Was the Tertiary Distribution?
After the secondary check period, court filings reported approximately $253,436 in remaining funds, subject to adjustment. The administrator sent a third distribution on January 20, 2026 to class members who had cashed the secondary check and qualified for at least $10 in the next round. The official site states that tertiary checks became void after April 20, 2026 and that the vast majority were cashed.Will There Be Another Payment Round?
No further claimant distribution is planned. The administrator says the small amount remaining makes another direct distribution economically infeasible. Plaintiffs intend to request a cy pres distribution of the residue, which would require court approval and would send remaining funds to an approved recipient rather than create a fourth payment round for class members. A pending cy pres request is not an open claim opportunity.What Should Former Claimants Know?
All filing, supplemental-information, and check-cashing deadlines are over. A person who did not file an original claim, did not qualify for earlier payments, or did not cash the required earlier check cannot enter the tertiary distribution now. Former claimants should retain their claim and payment records. The official site contains the distribution notices and court documents; OpenClassActions cannot trace a check or change the administrator’s eligibility determination.Official Information
Review the latest information on the official Transpacific Air Settlements website website.
Case
In re Transpacific Passenger Air Transportation Antitrust Litigation
Case Number
3:07-cv-05634-CRB; MDL No. 1913
Court
U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Combined Settlements
$147.402 million
Initial Distribution
March 17, 2022
Secondary Distribution
June 27, 2025
Tertiary Distribution
January 20, 2026
Official Website
official Transpacific Air Settlements website
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