OFT to probe flight supplement charges

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.