Airline fuel surcharges added after ticket purchases can violate EU consumer rules, the European Union warned Friday as carriers face higher energy costs from the Middle East war.
EU spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen told reporters in Brussels that airlines may adjust published fares but cannot justify adding fuel fees after a customer buys a ticket.
Itkonen said post-booking price changes can raise issues under the EU’s unfair commercial practices rules.
The European Commission said in a Friday document on the aviation energy crisis that airlines must exclude any retroactive changes to ticket prices.
The Commission said airlines cannot use terms and conditions to raise ticket prices above the advertised purchase price because fuel costs exceeded forecasts.
The EU said package holidays offer the only exception when sellers clearly state fuel-related cost changes in the contract.
Under that exception, sellers may raise prices by up to 8%, while customers can accept a higher increase or cancel their booking.
Spanish low-cost carrier Volotea faces criticism and an investigation in France after asking customers to pay fuel surcharges linked to the energy shock, according to AFP.
Volotea France director Gilles Gosselin defended the measure, telling AFP that three independent law firms had confirmed its legality.
