Airlines are being investigated by the UK competition watchdog over concerns they breached consumer rights by failing to offer cash refunds for flights passengers could not take amid the pandemic.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said the probe would look at situations where airlines continued to operate flights despite people being unable lawfully to travel for non-essential purposes, such as during the second lockdown in England last month.
It said that in some cases where flights were not cancelled, customers were not given refunds and were instead told to rebook or offered a voucher.
Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA, said: “We will be carefully analysing all the evidence to see whether any airlines breached consumers’ legal rights by refusing people cash refunds for flights they could not lawfully take.
“We recognise the continued pressure that businesses are currently facing but they have a responsibility to treat consumers fairly and abide by their legal obligations.”
