Competition investigates the airlines to raise fares after the increase in the resident's discount in the islands

The National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) is investigating the airlines that operate flights between the Balearic Islands and the Peninsula to check whether there have been increases in unjustified fees following the approval of the increase to 75% of the bonus for residents. The balearic Government has forwarded to the central Executive into several complaints by an important increase of the prices of the routes connecting the three airports of the Balearic islands with several Spanish cities that has left it weakened the increase in the discount for residents, the past month of July came into force, and that allows you to subsidize 75% of the cost of the ticket, excluding fees.

MORE INFORMATION Ryanair will not raise rates in spite of to pay 100 million more per year to their drivers after protests by Promoting tap to Ryanair by the discount to the islands The Government has approved this Friday the 75% discount for tours of the island's residents The 75% discount to the travels of the island's residents will apply before the 28th of July

The counselor of Territory, Energy and Mobility of the Government of the balearic islands, Marc Pons, claims that were submitted to the central Government several complaints from consumers by increasing the price of the tickets, deficiencies in the quality of services and security issues. In early November, the complaints were transferred to the National Commission of Markets and Competition to investigate whether there had been a distortion of prices in the last few months, while the Government met with Aena, Enaire and the State Air Security Agency to review the incidents that have occurred in the field of airport in the Balearic islands, both at the level of the price as security.

The allegations are also supported in a report prepared by the management of Travel Taraftarium Agencies of the Balearic islands (AVIBA) that after studying the price of 4,500 tickets since last July reveals that the companies that operate flights with origin or destination in the Balearic islands have increased their fares following the implementation of the new bonus. "The companies of the regular line as Iberia or Air Europe are less likely to increase the prices. The 'low cost' are the most have increased rates with respect to 2017" argues the president of AVIBA, Antoni Abrines. Another of the issues of concern and that has been transferred to the Government is the price difference on the same routes depending on whether the departure airport is within the archipelago or the Peninsula, with cases in which a reward ticket is more expensive on a route Palma-Madrid, a ticket with no bonus for a flight Madrid-Palma.

maximum Rates

To avoid what the counselor Pons has been qualified of "price escalation" has shown its intention to ask the Ministry of Development, which would oblige the companies to set a price maximum average of tickets for routes between the three airports of the islands with the rest of Spain. A decision that has to have the endorsement of the European Union, as the paths would have to be declared to be of public service, as already happens in the journeys between islands, which have a maximum cost of 90 euros and now aims to reduce to 60 euros.

in Addition to the price increase, Pons has shown its concern for the quality of service offered by some companies in the flights interisland. "We have sent complaints to EASA seeing the decline of the quality of service that has occurred at specific times in some paths between islands. We want that the State Air Security Agency to investigate if it has complied with the regulations at all times," says Pons. Iberia and Air Europa are the two airlines which operate the routes between the islands and in recent months have been forced to outsource to foreign companies for the power output to the demand, which skyrocketed after the increase in the resident's discount. However, the subcontractors have received numerous complaints of quality and safety, such as the lack of air conditioners in the middle of the summer. In the last year, the general directorate of Consumption of the balearic Government has opened 26 records against airlines and have been imposed penalties worth over a million euros.