The Spanish consumer association Facua has called for an investigation into the new pricing policy of low-cost airline Volotea, which links ticket prices to fuel costs, potentially resulting in a post-purchase surcharge of up to €14 per passenger per flight.
Volotea, based in the Asturias region in northern Spain, introduced this temporary policy on 16 March following the surge in oil and jet fuel prices due to the US and Israeli war against Iran, and stated that, since then, 97% of customers had decided to go ahead with their travel plans.
According to Facua, it is the first Spanish airline to apply these surcharges. Facua urged Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs to review the policy, arguing that it could breach consumer protection laws prohibiting changes to ticket prices after purchase, regardless of whether the adjustment results in a surcharge or a refund. A spokesperson for the ministry told Reuters that they had received Facua’s complaint and would look into it.
Facua’s stance is backed by the European Consumer Organisation (BEUC), which cited EU transparency rules requiring airlines to disclose in advance all charges included in the final ticket price. BEUC said that passengers with valid tickets are entitled to board without incurring subsequent surcharges.
Volotea said on Monday that the measure only applied to bookings made after it came into force on 16 March, and that passengers who purchased tickets before that date were not affected. The airline added that it complied with European and Spanish consumer regulations, as passengers were informed prior to purchase, whilst the adjustment was automatic and linked to an external benchmark index. The mechanism was transparent, was not intended to generate profits, and was based on the price of Brent crude and a predefined table, rather than on the airline’s discretion, Volotea stated.
Volotea had previously stated that its ‘Fair Travel Commitment’ policy aimed to ‘offer transparent prices, fair rules and flexibility’, emphasising that it allows passengers to change or cancel their bookings at no cost up to four hours before departure. Under this policy, the airline reviews publicly available fuel prices seven days before departure and adjusts fares, adding the surcharge if prices exceed a certain benchmark, or refunding the difference if prices fall.
According to a table provided by Volotea, the maximum surcharge applies when oil prices exceed $105 per barrel. No surcharges apply if oil prices are between $65 and $75, and passengers would receive refunds ranging from partial to full if oil falls below $65 per barrel.