UK regulator launches action against British Airways and Ryanair over refunds

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has today opened enforcement cases into both British Airways and Ryanair following the results of its December 2020 investigation into reports that consumers were being denied refunds for flights that they could not legally take. The CMA has written to both airlines detailing its concerns. During periods of lockdown across the UK, British Airways and Ryanair refused to give refunds to people that were lawfully unable to fly, with British Airways offering vouchers or rebooking and Ryanair providing the option to rebook. The CMA states that it is concerned that, “by failing to