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Penalty of eur 170 000 to Easyjet for misleading low-cost tariffs


PRESS RELEASE


PRESS RELEASE


PENALTY OF EUR 170 000 TO EASYJET FOR MISLEADING LOW-COST TARIFFS

With a EUR 170 000 penalty, the ICA has sanctioned the airline company Easyjet headquartered in the United Kingdom, specialising in low-cost flights, for unfair trade practices. At the end of the proceedings started on 20 June 2014, the Antitrust ascertained that the operator was advertising through its website a promotional offer with particularly advantageous prices, “without making clear the actual conditions and supply constraints in an appropriate manner to the consumer”.

In particular, the terms offered on the website of the airline for a single flight would only be available for a trip of two people or for a round-trip. In the case of a single reservation, instead, the final cost would be higher than the one advertised.  Finally, according to the Antitrust, the information provided by Easyjet at the time of booking – as stated in the text of the measure – “would be insufficient to make passengers aware of the limitations to which the offer is subject”.

In determining the penalty, the Authority took account of Easyjet’s conduct where, during the proceedings, it removed the profiles containing misleading claims and adopted measures to increase the transparency for consumers.

Rome, 2 February 2015