A NUMBER of travel agents have signed contracts with Qantas in which they have agreed to pull out of or never be involved in future legal action relating to an $80 million class action.
Qantas said yesterday it would not discuss its commercial contracts and denied it had tried to force travel agents to opt out of the case, which has been brought against Qantas, Singapore Airlines, Air NZ, Malaysian Airlines and Cathay Pacific, over their practice of not paying agents commission on fuel surcharges.
The airlines label the fuel surcharge a "tax" but the law firm running the case, Slater & Gordon, says this is misleading as the cost of fuel is part of an airline's operating costs and is not a government tax.
Flight Centre is the latest travel agency to withdraw from the class action, although managing director Graham Turner said yesterday he believed the consumer watchdog should take further action.