British Airways PLC asked a U.K. court to add Air France-KLM Group, Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. and 30 other carriers as defendants in a lawsuit over a price- fixing cartel for air-freight services.

British Airways made the request in the High Court in London to protect itself against payments it may be ordered to make in the case, according to a statement Monday from Hausfeld & Co. LLP, the law firm for two flower importers who sued the airline. The importers are seeking a class-action status.

“We hope that this will be a positive move in that it will encourage airlines to recognize their European liability to shippers and to start the process of making sensible commercial settlements,” Anthony Maton of Hausfeld said in the statement.

British Airways in 2007 pleaded guilty to conspiring to set extra charges on passenger and cargo flights and was fined $300 million in the US. Dozens of carriers have been investigated by antitrust regulators worldwide since 2006, when the U.S. and the European Union started probing the industry.

“We will continue to contest any class actions brought by cargo customers,” spokeswoman Cathy West said Monday in an interview. She declined to comment on the carrier’s request.

Air France spokeswoman Brigitte Barrand declined to comment. Elin Wong, a Cathay Pacific spokeswoman didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment, outside of regular office hours. (Bloomberg)