East Midlands MEP welcomes EU clamp down on airline fares

11.19.51am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 19th Jul 2006

Over the last few years, intense competition between low-cost carriers has greatly reduced the cost of flying. But East Midlands passengers still end up paying more than they bargained for.

In order to incite customers airlines frequently advertise very low ticket prices - only to add taxes and fuel surcharges later - which often increases the cost of a flight considerably.

Extra costs such as airport taxes, fuel surcharges, credit card fees, insurance and service charges are routinely added onto the basic price but are usually only revealed at a late stage of the booking process, when a customer may have already decided to buy a ticket.

The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, says this kind of advertising is misleading, and prevents consumers being able to compare the real cost of travelling with different airlines.

Its new proposals will ban such practices, and force carriers to publish the full cost of each ticket, including all taxes and charges - which often increases the cost of a flight considerably.

The new pricing rules are part of a European Union aviation law reform which aims to strengthen passenger's rights across the EU.

Bill Newton Dunn, Liberal Democrat Member for the East Midlands strongly supports this action by the EU Commission, saying:

"Customers should not be hoodwinked by airlines who add surreptitious extra charges. I am very glad that the EU is taking firm action."

"The price you see should be the price you pay."