Hungary’s market competition watchdog GVH has received an increasing number of complaints and notifications about airline practices.
GVH investigators are currently investigating the commercial practices of several airlines in the framework of complaint procedures, including both Ryanair and Wizz Air, Hungary’s own budget airline.
In one case, GVH fined Wizz Air, and in another, the domestic low-cost airline voluntarily agreed to compensate its passengers financially.
The national competition authority found that between November 2018 and May 2024, the airline failed to disclose — or did not communicate in a timely manner — that consumers could also choose to purchase certain additional services (Wizz Priority, checked baggage) separately when they opted for the basic service, instead steering consumers towards more expensive packages that included these services as standard.
The GVH also found that the airline had, since December 2019, engaged in commercial practices regarding the content and limits of the automatic check-in service that breached the duty of care.
Taking these practices into account, the GVH imposed a total fine of HUF 307 million (€780,000) on the airline for breach of the prohibition of unfair commercial practices.
