A class-action lawsuit was filed against Qantas, alleging the airline failed to refund passengers for flights cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic and retained customer funds from those cancellations. Qantas said it rejects the claims made in the lawsuit. Accounts differ on whether Qantas customers can still request refunds: one source states refunds can still be requested, while the lawsuit implies systemic refusal of refunds. Virgin Australia retained $93 million in COVID-era flight credits, according to one report. Customers of Virgin Australia have until 30 June 2026 to book and travel using those credits. Public health experts recognize the likelihood of future pandemics. Pandemics occur when an infection spreads rapidly across multiple countries or continents, often due to a new virus such as the one causing COVID-19. The 20th and 21st centuries have seen multiple pandemic events, including the 1918 Spanish flu, the 1957 Asian flu, the 1968 Hong Kong flu, the 2009 H1N1 swine flu, and COVID-19.