Italy probes airline Volotea over fuel-linked ticket surcharges

ROME, June 4 (Reuters) - Italy's competition authority said on Thursday it had opened an investigation into Spanish low-cost airline Volotea for alleged unfair commercial practices over ticket surcharges of up to €14 ($16.28) introduced in response to the Middle East crisis.

• The carrier introduced a new policy - called Fair Travel Promise - which adjusts fares to reflect jet fuel price increases triggered by the war on Iran.

• After purchasing the ticket and seven days before travel, passengers are asked to pay a supplement of €6-14 per person, per flight, based on the latest cost of Brent crude prices.

• While customers can change their flight, without fees, or cancel it in exchange for a voucher, failure to pay the supplement results in the loss of the ticket.

• The antitrust regulator said the policy could breach consumer protection rules, as it may mislead passengers into choosing flights based on incomplete pricing information and exert undue pressure to accept additional charges close to departure, or else having to rearrange travel plans.

• Spanish consumer rights group Facua in April called for an investigation into Volotea over the pricing policy now under investigation in Italy.

• Volotea did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

($1 = 0.8597 euros)

(Reporting by Giulia Segreti in Rome, additional reporting by Mirko Miorelli, editing by Alvise Armellini)