Italy fines Ryanair

Italy’s competition watchdog last week slapped a €400,000 fine on Irish budget air­line Ryanair for not honouring it commitment to simplify online ticket sales.

The regulator said the airline failed to provide an overall clear price at the very outset of the online booking procedure.

In the period December 1, 2012, to February 7, 2013, Ryanair introduced at the end of the online booking process a two per cent processing fee on a series of credit cards, the antitrust body said.

It said ticket prices should be “clearly and fully indicated from the very first contact with the consumer in such a way as to make the final price immediately clear,” it said.

Consumer association Codacons said all commissions on online air tickets should be eliminated.

“The commission costs for buying with credit cards are very high and are kept hidden by some airlines until the lastmoment,” Codacons president Carlo Rienzi said in a statement.

The fine follows a similar reprimand by the Netherlands Consumer Autho­rity last month which fined Ryanair €370,000 for hidden costs associated with tickets purchased online by Dutch travellers.

Ryanair rejected the accusation. “Ryanair will appeal the unfounded decision by the Italian competition au­thority,” a spokesman for the airline said.