Europe airlines could be forced to close Web sites

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The results of the investigation to be published on Wednesday and obtained by Reuters says "over 50 percent of all Web sites showed irregularities, in particular relating to price indications, contract terms and clarity of proposed conditions."

"Companies will be contacted by authorities and asked to provide clarification or change their practices in four months. Those who fail to do so could face legal action leading to fines or closure of their Web sites," the report says.

The results do not identify any airlines in particular, but the European Union's executive Commission intends to "publish a list of companies concerned" in four months time.

Last month, Spain's consumer rights watchdog said it had found misleading information in seven of 12 airline ticket Web sites including Ryanair - Europe's biggest low-cost airline.

The Spanish authorities also found faults with Spanish carriers Vueling, Iberia and Spainair.

"Ryanair and those other companies in the Spanish investigation are on our radar," a European Commission source told Reuters.

RYANAIR RESPONSE

"Ryanair calls on the European Commission to widen its investigation to cover the real scandal of unfair fuel surcharge increases being levied by British Airways, Air France, KLM and Lufthansa," Ryanair's head of communications, Peter Sherrard said in a statement.

Those airlines had all confirmed they had hedged their fuel at $65 to $75 per barrel, some $25 below market prices, he said.

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