GVH: Wizz Air was fined 300 million

By: Trademagazin Date: 2024. 08. 05. 11:36

The Competition Council of the Economic Competition Authority (GVH) imposed a fine of HUF 307 million on Wizz Air for violating the prohibition of unfair trade practices. Wizz Air announced: “it is challenging the unfounded decision of the GVH, which does not serve the interests of the passengers”.

According to GVH’s statement sent to MTI on Saturday, Wizz Air carried out commercial communications that violate the requirement of professional care about the essential features of the automatic passenger check-in service, and kept silent about the fact that consumers can purchase “extra services” that are part of some of its service packages separately, thereby the company steered consumers towards more expensive packages.

Wizz Air made several commitments during the procedure, but these were not accepted by the competition council – in view of their doubtful feasibility, as well as the previous and currently ongoing procedures.

At the beginning of 2023, the GVH initiated competition supervision proceedings against Wizz Air Hungary Zrt. During the procedure, the competition authority revealed that between November 2018 and May 2024, the airline kept silent – or did not communicate in time – that even when choosing the basic service, consumers have the option to purchase some additional services (Wizz Priority, checked baggage service) separately. In this way, the company practically steered consumers towards the more expensive packages that include these services as a standard. The GVH also revealed that, from December 2019, the airline engaged in commercial practices related to the content and limitations of the automatic passenger check-in service, which violated the requirement of professional care.