Consumers: 50% of misleading airline websites corrected

According to the EU Press Room, “EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva today published the mid term report on an EU wide enforcement investigation – involving 15 EU national authorities as well as Norway – against misleading advertising and unfair practices on airline ticket selling websites. The report shows that there are ‘serious and persistent consumer problems’ throughout the airline industry as a whole. 1 in 3 websites surveyed (137 out of 386 originally checked by the 13 reporting countries) have had to be followed up with enforcement action over the last 7 months for breaches of EU consumer law. Over 50% of those websites have been corrected during this time.’It is unacceptable that 1 in 3 consumers going to book a plane ticket online is being ripped off or mislead and confused”, said EU Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva. This report shows there are serious and persistent problems with ticket sales throughout the airline industry as a whole. I intend to work with Member States to do everything possible to wrap up this investigation by May 1st next year. But these findings send a political signal we cannot ignore. I hope operators have now realised the determination of the Commission to act on behalf of consumers where it is necessary. My message to industry is clear, act now or we will act. We will need to see credible evidence of improvement to clean up these sales and marketing practices within the airline sector by May 1st next year or we will be left with no choice but to intervene.’.”This Press Release is available in full text.

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