Wizz Air and other airlines face serious allegations of deceiving customers
Airlines are accused of greenwashing by consumer organisations from 18 countries. They have jointly complained about what they say are misleading and false claims that people are being misled into believing that flying can be made greener. Among others, the Hungarian low-cost airline Wizz Air and Irish low-cost airline Ryanair, also popular in Hungary, have been faced with the allegations.
BEUC (the European Consumer Organisation) and 22 member associations from 18 countries are lodging a complaint with the European Commission and the national network of consumer protection authorities (CPC) against misleading climate claims made by 17 European airlines, napi.hu reports.
Wizz Air also investigated
The following 17 airlines have been investigated and are being called on to end the misleading practice: Air Baltic, Air Dolomiti, Air France, Austrian, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Finnair, KLM, Lufthansa, Norwegian, Ryanair, SAS, SWISS, TAP, Volotea, Vueling, Wizz Air.
They are calling for a Europe-wide investigation into the issue and for the airlines concerned, and the industry as a whole, to stop making claims that give consumers the impression that aviation is sustainable.
“This is simply not true, as aviation is not sustainable and will not be in the foreseeable future,”
BEUC said.
Even if you pay a ‘green fare’, aviation will not be sustainable
Where airlines have suggested to consumers to pay extra “green” charges based on such misleading claims, consumer protection authorities should require airlines to reimburse consumers.
“Whether you pay a ‘green fare’ or not, your flight will still emit climate-harmful gases. Technological solutions to decarbonise aviation won’t become a massive-scale reality any time soon, so depicting flying as a sustainable mode of transport is pure greenwashing. At a time when many want to travel more sustainably, airlines should urgently stop offering consumers a fake peace of mind,” cityam.com quotes Ursula Pachl, the BEUC’s deputy director general, as saying.
Flight between Cluj-Napoca and Budapest cancelled
As we reported earlier today, the Romanian airline AirConnect has cancelled its flight between Cluj-Napoca and the Hungarian capital. Read details HERE.
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