Alitalia and Volotea are backing down now offer a refund, not just a voucher, to those who have received notice of cancellation or postponement of flights. This was announced by the Antitrust Authority in a note in which it specified that it had decided not to take any action to conclude the two sub-proceedings against the two airlines. The refund will be provided through an automatic procedure and with certain times.
The Antitrust procedure: the causes
After numerous reports from consumers, the Competition and Market Authority, he had indeed started two investigative proceedings and two precautionary sub-proceedings against Alitalia and Volotea.
The subject of the proceedings was the sale of tickets which have since been canceled by the two airlines because of Covid-19, despite the fact that they were flights operated in periods without traffic limits established by government measures and therefore they could not use the epidemic as the cause of the cancellations.
For the same reasons the two companies were also over under the ENAC viewfinder. Both had offered the delivery of a voucher instead of a refund the ticket price already paid by consumers. Furthermore, both Alitalia and Volotea have not provided consumers with adequate information as to the rights due in the event of cancellations.
The Antitrust statement: yes to reimbursements
“The sub-proceedings,” says the Antitrust statement, “have been initiated to suspend the practice consisting in the sale of some flights which are then unilaterally canceled, due to the spread of Covid-19, as well as in offering consumers only the voucher for transport services to be performed in a period and for destinations where there are no more traffic limits established by government measures. All this, however, without providing adequate information and assistance “
As a consequence of the Authority’s intervention, Alitalia and Volotea have therefore made the changes requested in the event of flight cancellations or rescheduling: “In particular, the companies have limited the use of the reason for the Covid pandemic – the press release continues – only in cases where it is not objectively possible to operate the flight due to restrictions on the transfer of people. Furthermore, the carriers have provided for the possibility of requesting a financial refund through an automatic procedure and with certain times. “
“Therefore, the consumer is left with any choice to receive a voucher, which is also increased – finally stresses the Antitrust. Both companies have also strengthened consumer assistance measures through a significant increase in employees in their respective call centers “
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