Cargolux (CV, Luxembourg) received EUR9,167,720.98 euros (USD10.39 million) in 2024 from the European Commission in a settlement over interest on annulled fines, according to draft amendments to the European Union's 2025 general budget.
Published on April 9, the Draft Amending Budget reveals that the cargo carrier recouped the sum in interest on antitrust fines that were reduced or annulled.
On January 10, 2025, Cargolux informed the General Court of the European Union that it had reached an "amicable settlement" with the European Commission over compensation for damages caused by the commission’s refusal to pay default interest on the principal amount of a repaid fine and compound interest on the default interest amount. The case was consequently removed from the court register on February 5, 2025.
In 2010, the European Commission fined 11 air cargo carriers EUR799 million (USD905 million) for participating in the cartel. Among them was Cargolux, which was fined EUR79.9 million (USD90.5 million). The infringements included coordinating surcharges from 1999 to 2006. The commission in 2017 readopted its 2010 decision after legal challenges reaffirmed fines against the cartel members.
On March 30, 2022, the General Court dismissed Cargolux's application to have the case against it annulled or its fine reduced. The airline's appeal before the Court of Justice of the European Union, the bloc's top court, is still pending.
ch-aviation has reached out to Cargolux for comment.
