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In the second largest antitrust sanction given out by the Justice Department, British Airways will be forced to pay fines totaling $546 million dollars to both US and British governments. 

British Airways was fined 121.5 million pounds ($246 million) by Britain's Office of Fair Trading and $300 million by the U.S. Department of Justice.  Korean Air Lines Co. Ltd was also fined $300 million by the Department of Justice. 

Both airlines plead guilty to price fixing. 

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Scott D. Hammond said their actions affected "virtually every American business and consumer.” 

BA admitted that between August 2004 and January 2006 it colluded with Virgin Atlantic over the surcharges, which were added to fares in response to rising oil prices.  Virgin Atlantic and Lufthansa will not face charges because both airlines alerted authorities but were also involved in price fixing. 

British Airways had set aside over $700 million dollars in anticipation of paying the fines. 

KSDK.com