Report
by Tanya Jefferies
The
Office of Fair Trading is carrying out a preliminary investigation into whether
tour operators are charging unfairly high supplements for flights from regional
airports.
The
probe is being supported by consumers affairs minister Kim Howells, who has
come under pressure from Manchester MP Graham Stringer and Scottish MP Frank
Roy to take action.
An
OFT spokeswoman said it had received a number of complaints about flight supplements
from MPs and the public, and was looking into them to see if there was evidence
to justify a full official investigation.
However,
major tour operators and ABTA said they would be surprised if there were
grounds for a full investigation because of the sheer range of factors which
could affect prices from different airports.