The Antitrust extends its focus on the algorithms used by airlines to define ticket prices, and launches a market investigation aimed at analyzing the demand for flights to Sicily and Sardinia and understanding the motivations and parameters underlying the choices of purchase of travellers.
Codacons’ complaint
This was announced by Codacons, which received the Authority’s communication today. With regard to the proceedings opened on price algorithms in air passenger transport on national routes to and from Sicily and Sardinia, initiated on 14 November 2023 following a formal complaint from Codacons, the Antitrust has communicated the decision to «provide a market survey relating to the characteristics of the demand for air transport on national routes to and from Sicily and Sardinia, aimed at defining the parameters and motivations that guide users’ choices in purchasing airline tickets” and resolved “to arrange a market survey relating to the characteristics of the demand for air transport on national routes to and from Sicily and Sardinia, aimed at defining the parameters and motivations that guide users’ choices in purchasing airline tickets” by entrusting the The task of carrying out the analysis is given to the company Doxa, which must present the final report of the investigation by 15 May 2024.
Satisfied consumers
«We are satisfied with the Antitrust’s decision to get to the bottom of the issue of flight prices, expanding the ongoing investigation and asking for consumers’ contribution to better understand the demand for tickets to and from Sicily and Sardinia. – states President Carlo Rienzi – Our hope is that a concrete result can be achieved before the summer, when the prices of airline tickets will soar as a result of the departures of Italians, enormously worsening citizens’ spending on summer holidays” .
