The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has accepted undertakings from Qantas and Virgin Blue not to exclude additional taxes, levies and charges from the advertised price of their airfares, ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today.
"To assist in establishing new industry-wide standards for the advertising of airfares, Qantas and Virgin Blue have undertaken that advertised airfares will include all taxes, levies and charges applicable to airline tickets.
"These undertakings are provided under section 87B of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and are court-enforceable.
"The new standards reflected in these undertakings will avoid confusion by consumers as to the actual prices they are likely to pay if they purchase airline tickets."
In a news release of 13 May 2002* the ACCC placed the travel industry on notice that it expects all forms of price advertising to comply with the Act.
"The ACCC has provided a transition period for the industry to amend its advertising. Industry operators have until 30 June 2002 to ensure price advertising complies."
The ACCC has provided compliance guidance for the travel industry through its information line, 1300 302 502.