DOJ says China Airlines to plead guilty, pay $40M fine in price-fixing conspiracy

WASHINGTON – The Justice Department says China Airlines Ltd. has agreed to plead guilty and pay a $40 million criminal fine in a price-fixing conspiracy.

According to a charge filed in federal court, Taiwan-based China Airlines joined with cargo carriers by agreeing during meetings on components of cargo rates that were to be charged for shipments on some routes to and from the United States.

Eighteen airlines and eight executives have been charged in the probe and the Justice Department has imposed more than $1.6 billion in criminal fines. Four executives have been sentenced to serve prison time.