PRESS RELEASE

PENALTY OF EUR 80 000 TO AIR FRANCE FOR THE LIMITS ON ROUND-TRIP TICKETS

A fine of EUR 80 000 to Air France for the limits introduced by the company in the case of lack of use, by the consumers, of the first leg of a round-trip ticket or multiple destinations. The conduct consisting in the cancellation a subsequent return ticket, or the request for a premium price to the passenger who wants to take the return flight after not having taken the outward flight (the so-called ‘no show rule’), represents an unfair commercial practice that violates the rules of the Consumer Code for the Antitrust Authority. This with specific reference to the information given when purchasing online regarding the existence of this pricing rule and also to the lack of provision for a specific procedure to notify the airline, within a reasonable time, to still want to take the return flight.

During the procedure, Air France modified its General Contract Conditions by introducing a specific procedure for the Italian market. This foresees, without incurring additional charges or unpleasant surprises when boarding, the possibility of informing the airline of the intention to make use of the next flight already purchased, thus reconciling the rule of the obligation to use the subsequent return ticket with the needs of the consumer.

On the subject of the no-show rule, similar measures were taken by the Authority against Alitalia-CAI and Lufthansa.

Rome, 22 January 2015