The GVH warned low-cost passengers that this is not the way to treat passengers.
The ball is at Liszt Ferenc International Airport: it is true that air travel is chaotic these days, not only in the Hungarian capital, but also throughout Europe. Minister of National Economy Márton Nagy urged immediate interventions, while it is scant consolation for the public that Budapest Airport has set up help points for passengers waiting at the airport due to flight delays. The head of the ministry also appointed the head of HungaroControl, and Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Kossuth radio: what we are seeing in air transport is intolerable.
In view of the increased number of consumer signals in the recent period, as well as news reports about the operational problems of the air traffic market, the market anomalies - to which thousands of Hungarian travelers and vacationers fell victim - the president of the GVH, using his authority, sent a call to attention to several airlines.
Wizz Air, Ryanair and EasyJet are also among the recipients.
In response to the Index's inquiry, the GVH indicated that the Economic Competition Office continuously monitors the air traffic market and the activities of airlines operating in Hungary, and supports the ongoing consumer protection official procedures within its powers. The office informed: following the increasing number of consumer complaints and related news reports in the recent period
Balázs Csaba Rigó, president of the Economic Competition Authority (GVH), sent a call to attention to several airlines.
In the calls for attention, the president of the national competition authority underlined: due to the consumer signals affecting the air passenger transport sector and the operational anomalies that occurred at the Liszt Ferenc International Airport in the recent period, Regulation 25/1999 on the rules of air passenger transport. (II. 12.), in addition to the rules of the government decree, it is also necessary to take into account the provisions of the Act on the Prohibition of Unfair Commercial Practices (Fttv.) during the commercial communication of airlines.
Balázs Csaba Rigó stated that "especially in the case of advertising practices that significantly affect economic competition, the Competition Authority is entitled to take action against deception related to discounts, additional costs, baggage check-in, booking fees, flight ticket reservations and changes".
The president of GVH pointed out in the calls for attention that "in promoting conscious consumer decision-making, respecting the legitimate interests of consumers who are about to travel, and making consumer information widely and transparently available, the airlines concerned have fundamental obligations prescribed by law". Balázs Csaba Rigó also drew attention to the fact that
"the GVH monitors market processes and, in justified cases, takes the necessary measures within its competence".
At the same time, it was stated at the authority: the call for attention does not constitute an obstacle to the conduct of procedures under the competence of the Economic Competition Authority, therefore the fact of the presidential intervention does not preclude the GVH from initiating a competition supervision procedure in connection with the indicated behavior based on the legal provisions governing it.
However, in the event of the initiation of a competition supervision procedure, the office may take into account the behavior of the recipient company in connection with the evaluation of blameworthiness.
The competition office informed that several competition supervisory procedures are currently underway against airlines. Most recently, in January of this year, proceedings were initiated against Wizz Air, as it was able to withhold important information from passengers.
Cover image: Terminal 2 of Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport
Source: MTI/Szilárd Koszticsák
