British Airways and Ryanair under CMA refund spotlight

The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating whether British Airways and Ryanair have broken consumer law by failing to offer refunds for flights customers could not legally take due to lockdown laws in the UK. The body has opened enforcement cases into both airlines and written to them detailing its concerns. It is now seeking to resolve these concerns with the companies. The CMA said it would not provide any additional public information about the cases and it should not be assumed at this time that either airline has broken the law. ADVERTISEMENT“Ultimately, only a court can decide whether a breach has occurred,” added a statement. The CMA launched an investigation into the wider airline sector in December last year following reports carriers may have breached consumers’ legal rights. The investigation will consider situations where airlines continued to operate flights despite people being unable lawfully to travel for non-essential purposes in the UK or abroad, for example during the second lockdown in England in November. The CMA will be writing to airlines requesting information to understand more about their approach to refunds for consumers prevented from flying due to lockdown. Rory Boland, Which? Travel editor, said: “Millions of customers were treated appallingly last year when airlines continued to operate flights during lockdown restrictions but refused to refund their passengers for flights they could not legally take – so it is right that the CMA is investigating two of the largest airlines for potentially breaching consumer law. “Customers should not have been penalised for simply following the law and trying to protect public health, so if the regulator finds that Ryanair and BA have breached consumer law, we would expect to see all affected customers given the option of a refund. “With further disruption to travel this year likely, it is vital we do not see a repeat of last year’s disastrous situation.” Older MSC Virtuosa passengers refused entry to Scottish port Newer Voting opens for World MICE Awards 2021 Adblock test (Why?)