The ACCC follows a well-trodden path in pursuit of Qantas
Consumer cases are generally shorter, cheaper and less complicated to run than competition lawsuits. The ACCC has a solid track record of success in them.
The ACCC's allegations that Qantas misled or deceived customers by advertising more than 8,000 flights it had already cancelled builds on the regulator's predilection for taking on consumer lawsuits.
Consumer cases are generally shorter, cheaper and less complicated to run than competition lawsuits. The ACCC has a solid track record of success in consumer law cases, securing penalties against Google, Meta subsidiaries and Dell.
The ACCC's Baker McKenzie legal team must focus on proving whether an ordinary person would be misled by Qantas' advertising. There's no need to prove corporate intent or liability.
The lawsuit is focused on the advertising of ticket prices for more than 8,000 flights scheduled to depart between May and July 2022, for which Qantas kept selling tickets in some instances up to 47 days after the flights were cancelled, the ACCC said.
