The parent firm of Swissair whose aircraft crashed off the coast of Nova Scotia last year says it will pay the equivalent of $182,000 to the relatives of each of the victims.

Swissair Flight 111 crashed off Peggy's Cove Sept. 2, killing all 229 passengers on board.

An S-Air-Group chief executive says that 25 families have taken the airline up on its offer so far.

The payment does not affect the relatives' rights in terms of receiving final, and possibly higher, compensation.

The total sum of compensation claims filed so far in connection with the crash stands at over $6 billion.

Twenty-two lawsuits stemming from the crash had been filed to date.

The cause of the crash remains unknown.