The Antitrust turns the spotlight on the increases in domestic flights to Sicily and Sardinia .
The Authority has launched a fact-finding investigation into the use of pricing algorithms by airlines. Excessive price increases detected starting from 2022 in correspondence with peak demand periods are in the spotlight.
Airlines, we read in the Antitrust note, «have been adopting pricing systems for years which, thanks to the use of algorithms and software for data processing, differentiate and adapt flight costs over time ».
In recent years, it is explained, the degree of automation and sophistication of these systems has significantly increased, both due to the exponential growth of the information that can be processed and due to technological evolution. And in the future it could be even worse, with the use of artificial intelligence which could develop new criteria for defining prices.
The Antitrust investigation concerns the possible negative effects of the use of algorithms on the functioning of the market and on the offer to consumers . A spotlight will also be shined on the methods of communicating to the public the prices of airline tickets and their various components.
At the end of the investigation , the Authority could impose measures on companies to eliminate these market distortions or recommend regulatory changes to the legislator to improve the functioning of the markets.
Furthermore, "if, during the procedure, companies present commitments, the Authority will be able to evaluate their suitability for resolving the critical issues identified and make them mandatory".
(Unioneonline/L)
