Probe into airline ticket prices

Complaints about internet bookings

The European Commission has begun an inquiry over the pricing of airline tickets in the European Union.

It has received complaints alleging that consumers are paying up to 300% more for identical airplane tickets, because of where they live.

The Commission has written to 18 airlines asking whether they are varying prices in this way.

The airlines have until the end of February to explain any alleged price differences that may exist.

Single market

The commission said it was receiving increasing numbers of complaints, including from UK residents, and people who had booked their tickets over the internet.

These suggested some European airlines may be charging different prices for identical flights depending on where the buyer lives.

"The complaints received by the commission concern identical tickets," the commission said in a statement.

"The contested price differences are thus not linked to the date of purchase, the possibility of changing a reservation or to any other service feature which could explain varying costs."