Air France, KLM and Martinair have entered into an agreement to settle damage claims brought against them in the United States alleging violations of the antitrust laws in connection with air cargo shipping services.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, which is subject to court approval, the carriers will pay a total of $87 million in exchange for a release from all claims by direct purchasers of air cargo shipping services to and from the United States between 2000 and 2006. This amount will be deducted from the provision posted in 2008.

The civil actions, which have been brought as class actions and consolidated in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, were initially filed in 2006 after the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission initiated investigations of the air cargo industry.

In 2008, the three carriers entered into plea agreements in the United States to resolve that investigation. The investigation by the EU Commission remains pending.