Flugtickets: Kommission nimmt irreführende Internetseiten ins Visier [en] 

The Commissioner said she was "appalled" at the results revealed in a mid-term report published on 8 May, which show that 137 of the 386 websites investigated were in blatant breach of EU consumer law. 

Misleading price advertising remains by far the most common irregularity, with 58% of the offending websites failing to indicate the existence of additional ticket charges, including taxes, booking fees and credit card charges. 

What's more, half of them were found to present irregularities in their contract terms, such as missing language versions and pre-checked boxes for optional services. 15% are also guilty of advertising eye-catching opportunities that are then impossible to find or no longer available. 

The websites under examination were those of both traditional and low-cost airlines, as well as tour operators and price comparison sites. While the Commission cites no names, it says that companies involved include both "large brand names and lesser known companies". 

Due to legal constraints in many member states, only Norway and Sweden have published the names of the offending sites. The Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair appears in both countries' lists, alongside companies like Finland's Blue 1, Austrian Airlines and Travelpartner. 

The report shows that, of the 137 websites in breach of EU rules, nearly half have already been corrected in the past seven months. Nevertheless, Kuneva stressed that "that is not good enough" and that the air travel industry "must put its house in order". 

She expressed hope that new airline pricing regulation, making it compulsory for airlines to advertise full flight prices, including all additional taxes and charges would help make commercial obligations "even clearer" (EurActiv 19/07/06). The new rules are due to enter into force in the autumn, "but industry must comply," stressed Kuneva. 

A final report is due on 1 May 2009 and will be decisive in determining whether the Commission takes any further measures. By then, Kuneva warned that she expects "credible moves to clean up marketing practices across the board," adding: "My message to industry is clear, act now or we will act." 

Companies that continue to run non-conforming websites could be fined or even shut down, states the report. 

While the European Consumers' Organisation BEUC welcomed the Commission's work, it stressed the need to name and shame companies in the wrong. "What is really missing now for European consumers is the names of the companies which are not playing by the rules. It is only armed with this information that consumers will be able to fully play their role in the market by turning their backs on these websites!"