EU pressures airlines over soaring fares
Transport commissioner says Brussels needs ‘detailed explanation’ after ticket prices rose 30% over summer
Brussels is probing the recent rise in air fares across Europe after airlines pushed up prices by as much as 30 per cent over the summer, leading to bumper profits.
Key takeaways
- Airlines are free to set their own fares under EU laws, and the liberalised air market has historically driven down prices and opened up new route;
- However a surge in demand for flights has this year, amid a shortage of aircraft, drove up ticket prices;
- While ultra low-cost carriers Ryanair and Wizz Air are flying more than in 2019, most European airlines are not.
Get the full story at the Financial Times