Updated November 7, 2026
Ward v. ATPCO airline fare data class action
| Case | Ward and Morris v. Airline Tariff Publishing Company, et al., No. 2:26-cv-04289 (W.D. Wash., Seattle) |
|---|---|
| Filed | November 4, 2026 |
| Judge | Not yet reported. The complaint does not name one. |
| Plaintiffs | Ashley Ward of Temecula, California (bought from Southwest) and Gregory Morris of Rockaway, New Jersey (bought from United) |
| Defendants | Airline Tariff Publishing Company (ATPCO), its subsidiary 3Victors, Inc., Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, American Airlines Group, Alaska Air Group, Hawaiian Holdings, Southwest Airlines and JetBlue Airways |
| Claims | Four counts under Section 1 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. § 1). Plaintiffs seek treble damages and an injunction under the Clayton Act. |
| Proposed classes | Everyone who in the past four years bought a U.S. domestic ticket from Southwest, Alaska or JetBlue, and a separate class of everyone who bought a domestic ticket from United |
| Plaintiffs’ lawyers | Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro LLP (Steve W. Berman, Theodore Wojcik, Samuel E. Kurland) |
| Status | Newly filed. No class certified, no settlement and nothing to claim. A jury trial is demanded. |
Seven U.S. airlines, the industry fare publisher ATPCO and its data subsidiary 3Victors built an information exchange to monitor each other’s prices and keep airfares high, a proposed class action filed November 4, 2026 in Seattle federal court claims. The suit was first reported by Law360. We read the 99 page complaint, which Courthouse News published.
The allegations are unproven. We found no public response from the airlines, ATPCO or 3Victors as of November 7, 2026.
Key takeaways
- The case is Ward v. ATPCO, No. 2:26-cv-04289 in the Western District of Washington, filed November 4, 2026.
- The plaintiffs say airlines pooled confidential dynamic pricing data through ATPCO’s Iris repository and PriceEye dashboard.
- The proposed classes cover domestic tickets bought in the past four years from Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue or United.
- The complaint estimates “millions” of class members and does not state a damages figure.
- There is no settlement and nothing to claim yet.
What the airline price fixing lawsuit claims
The complaint says the airlines used ATPCO to create “a new, highly sophisticated information exchange to monitor one another’s pricing” and artificially inflate fares for millions of Americans. It argues the exchange restrains competition in violation of the Sherman Act.
The plaintiffs bring two types of claims for each class. One targets ATPCO and the airlines that govern it for setting up the exchange. The other targets ATPCO and the participating airlines for using it. Ward brings the claims for the Southwest, Alaska and JetBlue class. Morris brings them for the United class.
How the alleged data sharing worked
According to the complaint, the problem began when airlines started moving from published fare lists to “dynamic pricing,” where an airline calculates a personalized price for each traveler. The plaintiffs say that threatened the old system in which airlines watched each other’s public fare filings.
- 2016 and 2017: ATPCO convened a Dynamic Pricing Working Group and presented its findings at its October 2017 conference. A slide showed two airlines that cannot see each other’s private offers cutting a $350 fare down to the cost of flying. The presentation warned dynamic pricing “could reduce the ability of airlines to evaluate and respond to competitor price changes.”
- 2018: A researcher who co-authored ATPCO’s commissioned study wrote that giving airlines more information about rivals’ pricing “could maintain pricing discipline without costly price wars,” the complaint says.
- July 2023: ATPCO announced its board approved a cloud program letting airlines “analyze their collective shopping insights.” The complaint says eight of the eleven ATPCO board members that year held pricing, revenue management or chief revenue roles at airlines.
- December 2023: ATPCO acquired 3Victors, a travel data company.
- 2024 to 2026: ATPCO and 3Victors built Iris, a repository that pools airlines’ shopping data and dynamic prices, and PriceEye, a dashboard offering “pricing alerts,” “competitive benchmarking” and “anomaly detection.” Airlines get PriceEye access by contributing data, which 3Victors describes as “the more you contribute, the more you receive.”
The complaint alleges the conspiracy ran from at least November 4, 2022 to the present.
Who is named and what each is accused of
- ATPCO: A Washington, D.C. corporation based in Herndon, Virginia that publishes and distributes airline fares. The complaint says it is owned by a group of airlines that includes American, Delta and United, with eleven airlines on its board.
- 3Victors: The ATPCO company that runs Iris and PriceEye.
- American, Delta and United: Named as ATPCO co-owners. The complaint says, on information and belief, that each took part in the exchange.
- Alaska: Signed a PriceEye agreement with 3Victors in July 2024, the complaint says. Alaska Air Group acquired Hawaiian on September 18, 2024.
- Hawaiian: Its chief revenue officer sat on ATPCO’s board from 2014 to 2024, the complaint says.
- Southwest and JetBlue: Accused, on information and belief, of subscribing to PriceEye and contributing shopping data to Iris.
Many of these allegations are made “on information and belief,” which means the plaintiffs have not yet proven them. The complaint also reserves the right to name other airlines as co-conspirators.
Who is in the proposed classes?
The complaint proposes two classes under Federal Rule 23:
- Southwest, Alaska and JetBlue Purchaser Class: All persons who, within the past four years, bought one or more tickets from Southwest, Alaska or JetBlue for U.S. domestic air travel.
- United Purchaser Class: All persons who, within the past four years, bought one or more tickets from United for U.S. domestic air travel.
As written, the classes do not list Delta or American tickets, although both airlines are defendants. The plaintiffs reserve the right to change the class definitions. A judge has not certified any class.
What the plaintiffs want
The complaint asks for class certification, a declaration that the conduct violates the Sherman Act, treble damages with joint and several liability, a permanent injunction, interest, and costs and attorneys’ fees. It does not state a dollar figure. Courthouse News, which published the complaint, reports no airline comment.
ATPCO faced price fixing claims in the 1990s
In December 1992 the U.S. Justice Department sued ATPCO and eight airlines, claiming they used the fare system to signal price changes and coordinate fares. The case ended in settlements with consent decrees in 1993 and 1994. In announcing the 1994 deal, then Assistant Attorney General Anne Bingaman said, “Although their method was novel, their conduct amounted to price fixing, plain and simple,” according to the DOJ press release. The new complaint says those decrees later expired and describes its claims as a modern version of the old arrangement.
Regulators are also looking at airline pricing. On November 4, 2026, Skift reported that the Federal Trade Commission asked Delta, United and JetBlue how they set fares.
A second airline suit
Other outlets report a separate suit, Brown v. ATPCO, against American, Delta, Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue and ATPCO. Travelers Today says it was filed November 2, 2026. View from the Wing says it is in Virginia. We could not confirm the court, so treat those details as unverified.
Key dates
- December 1992: DOJ sues ATPCO and eight airlines over fare signaling.
- 1993 and 1994: The DOJ case ends in consent decrees.
- July 2023: ATPCO announces its shopping insights program.
- December 2023: ATPCO buys 3Victors.
- November 2, 2026: Brown v. ATPCO reportedly filed.
- November 4, 2026: Ward v. ATPCO filed in Seattle.
- Next: The defendants will respond to the complaint, likely with motions to dismiss. No hearing date or judge has been reported.
What it means for travelers
Antitrust class actions often take years. A judge must first decide whether the claims can go forward, then whether the case can proceed as a class action. Any money for passengers would come only from a settlement or a win at trial, and antitrust damages are usually trebled if the plaintiffs win.
How do I join?
You do not need to sign up now. If a class is certified or a settlement is reached, eligible ticket buyers are usually notified and can file a claim. Save receipts and booking confirmations for domestic flights you bought from Southwest, Alaska, JetBlue and United in the past four years, and keep records for Delta and American in case the classes change. Our guide on how to join a class action lawsuit explains the process. Ignore anyone who asks for a fee to register you for this case.
Frequently asked questions
Which airlines are being sued?
Delta, United, American, Alaska, Hawaiian, Southwest and JetBlue, along with ATPCO and 3Victors.
What is the airline price fixing lawsuit about?
It claims the airlines used ATPCO’s Iris data repository and PriceEye dashboard to share confidential dynamic pricing data and monitor each other’s fares, which the plaintiffs say kept prices higher than competition would.
What is the case number?
No. 2:26-cv-04289 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, filed November 4, 2026.
Is there an airline price fixing settlement I can claim?
Not for this case. It was just filed. An older $60 million domestic airline capacity settlement is a separate case.
Have the airlines responded?
We found no public statement from the airlines, ATPCO or 3Victors as of November 7, 2026. We will add any response.
This article is for general information and is not legal advice. The claims described are allegations from the complaint, and the airlines and ATPCO may respond in court.
