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Consumer Commissioner Meglena Kuneva's mid-term report into the airlines practices said that at there are "serious and persistent consumer problems" throughout the airline industry as a whole. One in three of the websites surveyed were found to be in breaches of EU consumer law.

"It is unacceptable that one in three consumers going to book a plane ticket online is being ripped off or mislead and confused", said Kuneva. "This report shows there are serious and persistent problems with ticket sales throughout the airline industry as a whole."

Many of the sites examined

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were found to have had multiple violations. Misleading pricing was biggest problem, found in 58%, while irregularities related to contract terms (such as (missing or wrong language version, and pre-checked boxes for optional services) were found in 49% of those sites. Non-availability of advertised offers appeared in 15% of the sites.

Over 50% of offending websites have been corrected following enforcement action taken during the past seven months, but Kuneva said that the investigation will continue until May 2009.

"I hope operators have now realised the determination of the Commission to act on behalf of consumers where it is necessary," she said. "My message to industry is clear, act now or we will act. We will need to see credible evidence of improvement to clean up these sales and marketing practices within the airline sector by May 1st next year or we will be left with no choice but to intervene."

More information can be found at ec.europa.eu/consumers/enforcement/sweep/index_en.htm.