European consumer regulators have given airlines and related companies four months to correct information on their ticket-sales Internet sites after a sweep of nearly 450 such sites found more than half contained potentially misleading price information or unfair conditions.
These companies have also been warned that they face public identification if appropriate measures are not taken to address the situation.
The European Commission today detailed the results of a ‘consumer sweep’ of carriers’ Internet sites conducted in September in order to check companies’ compliance with European consumer laws.
It concentrated ensuring that companies headlined total ticket price, including additional charges, and that terms and conditions attached to ticket offers were clearly indicated and fair. Unfair practices included mandatory insurance purchase and opt-out, rather than opt-in, clauses.
Fifteen EU countries, plus Norway, were involved in the examination which was carried out in line with newly-introduced consumer-protection legislation. National authorities used a consistent method to identify Internet sites selling air tickets
Of the 447 sites checked, 226 were found to have irregularities. Sixty-three of these will be followed up by the Consumer Protection Co-operation national enforcement network, designed to handle cross-border issues, while the other 163 will be dealt with at national level.
European consumer-protection commissioner Meglena Kuneva says that the carriers and other companies will be contacted and given four months to correct their Internet sites or explain their position. She warns that companies failing to satisfy the EC’s requirements will be “named and shamed”.
“Consumers deserve clear and fair pricing an no hidden surprises in the small-print of contract terms,” says Kuneva. “The figures released today show that there is a substantial problem in the industry.
“This is a European issue which requires Europe-wide action. I am issuing the strongest possible warning to companies to take swift action to put their house in order.”
Denmark was the country with the most sites checked, although irregularities were found in only 25 of the 62 sites examined. Forty-six of the 48 sites studies in Belgium were found to contain potential problems.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
