Consumer Minister Provides boost for intending travellers Advertisements for airfares to be subject to new rules Consumers are entitled to reliable, transparent information about airfares before they buy a ticket - Kitt

From March 1st next, new rules introduced by Consumer Affairs Minister Tom Kitt, entitling air travellers to fuller information in regard to the price of the airline ticket they are considering purchasing will come into force. From that date all advertisements must include comprehensive information in regard to the full cost and availability of the fare on offer.

Minister Kitt said, "To make informed choices, consumers need reliable, transparent information about airfares before they buy a ticket. Legislation is the appropriate way of addressing this imbalance and I therefore had no hesitation in using the statutory powers at my disposal under the Consumer Information Act 1978 to require certain key information to be included in advertisements".

The Consumer Information (Advertisements for Airfares) Order, 2000, signed by Minister Kitt, will come into operation on Thursday, 01 March 2001. The date is designed to give a reasonable period of advance notice to the industry to gear itself up for compliance.

Earlier last year Minister Kitt indicated his intention to make the Order in response to an investigation in 1999 by the Director of Consumer Affairs, Carmel Foley, into complaints about the hidden costs of air travel.

The Order has been the subject of extensive prior consultation by the Minister and his Department. Those consulted included the Director of Consumer Affairs (who will enforce the Order); the Department of Public Enterprise; the European Commission; the Irish Travel Agents’ Association; Aer Rianta; and Air Operators including a total of 48 EU and non-EU airlines serving Ireland.

The Minister added: "While a competitive market is clearly essential, it needs to be complemented by specific measures to protect consumers as intending passengers, as happens in the case of consumers of other services."