ROME. The Italian Antitrust Authority has imposed a fine of 4.2 million euros on Ryanair for unfair commercial practices. The company, once the travel restrictions related to the Covid 19 emergency ceased, had not reimbursed consumers the cost of tickets for flights canceled after June 3, 2020. In recent days, the Antitrust Authority for the same reasons had also sanctioned easyJet for 2.8 million euros and Volotea for 1.4 million euros. According to the Authority, the three companies engaged in a seriously improper conduct that did not comply with the fee of professional diligence when – once the travel restrictions were over – they proceeded with numerous cancellations of flights scheduled and offered for sale, always using the reason for the health emergency. and continuing to issue vouchers without refunding the price paid for the canceled tickets. Furthermore, misleading and omissive information has been provided to consumers about their rights and the recognition of the monetary reimbursement has been hindered and delayed, through methods and procedures to induce – and in some cases even force – the consumer to choose and / or accept the voucher instead of refund.
For some companies, other misconduct has been ascertained such as the failure to recognize a refreshment in the case of cancellation of the trip due to the new pandemic situation or the affixing of obstacles to the use of vouchers already issued: for example, forcing the use of a telephone number to payment to be able to use the vouchers, not making the monetary reimbursement on expiry of the same or still not providing for the duration of 18 months as established by the emergency regulations. Finally, with regard to Ryanair, the advertising campaign disseminated through the main media – again starting from June – was also considered misleading and focused on the possibility of changing the flight for free (through the claim “No penalty for the change” or similar) where, on the other hand, the company applied higher rates for the new flight chosen by the consumer than those that were simultaneously charged on its booking system and in any case provided for the penalty if the flight change took place in the 7 days prior to departure. In addition to the payment of fines for a total of € 8.4 million, Ryanair, easyJet and Volotea will have to present the measures to comply with the Authority’s provision.