78The European Commission has said airlines may adjust future fares in response to higher fuel prices, but cannot add fuel surcharges to tickets already bought by passengers.<\/p>\n
The European Commission has warned airlines that they cannot increase the price of a ticket after it has been bought, even where carriers face higher fuel costs linked to the energy pressures affecting the aviation sector.<\/p>\n
The warning follows scrutiny of Spanish low-cost carrier Volotea, which has faced criticism in France after asking passengers to pay additional fuel-related charges after booking. The case has drawn attention to the limits of airline pricing flexibility under EU consumer and aviation rules.<\/p>\n
Brussels has said that airlines remain free to adjust published fares for future bookings. However, it has drawn a clear distinction between future ticket pricing and retrospective charges imposed on customers who have already completed a purchase.<\/p>\n
In guidance published by the European Commission<\/a>, EU officials said that \u201cany retroactive change of the price is excluded\u201d. The Commission said air carriers cannot rely on contract terms that allow them to increase the ticket price after sale because fuel has become more expensive than expected.<\/p>\n Commission spokesperson Anna-Kaisa Itkonen said airlines may adjust their published fares in response to market conditions, but that adding a fuel surcharge after purchase \u201ccannot be justified\u201d. She added that such practices could raise questions under EU rules on unfair commercial practices.<\/p>\n Under EU rules on air services, anyone selling air tickets must display the final price payable by the passenger. This includes unavoidable and foreseeable taxes, fees and charges. Optional supplements must be presented clearly at the start of the booking process and accepted by the passenger on an opt-in basis.<\/p>\n The Commission\u2019s position means that fuel costs are treated as part of the commercial risk borne by airlines when setting fares. Airlines may raise prices for later bookings, but the passenger who has already bought a ticket must not be required to pay more for the same contract.<\/p>\n The issue has emerged at a time when airlines are facing pressure from higher energy costs and wider disruption linked to tensions in the Middle East. The Commission has acknowledged that the sector is facing operational difficulties, but has said this does not remove existing consumer protections.<\/p>\n The EU guidance<\/a> also addresses fuel uplift obligations, public service routes, airport slots and passenger rights. It makes clear that carriers whose terms and conditions still allow fuel surcharges to be applied after ticket sale must amend those terms, as they are not compliant with EU law.<\/p>\n The question of flight cancellations is separate from the question of ticket price increases. The Commission has said that high fuel prices alone should not normally be treated as \u201cextraordinary circumstances\u201d allowing airlines to avoid their obligations to passengers. Where flights are cancelled, passengers may be entitled to reimbursement, re-routing and, in some cases, compensation under EU passenger rights rules<\/a>.<\/p>\n Volotea has defended its system, saying that its legality had been examined by independent legal specialists in air transport and consumer law. The airline has argued that the mechanism is transparent, temporary and capable of operating both upwards and downwards, depending on fuel prices.<\/p>\n