Colombia Aviation Regulator Fines LATAM Airlines $83,000 USD for False Advertising

Colombia’s civil aviation authority fined LATAM Airlines’ domestic arm $83,000 USD for misleading advertising. The regulator, Aerocivil, slapped LATAM Colombia on the wrist for issues related to its online ticket purchasing process, which was “not clear and understandable” and led to passengers making errors when scheduling flights.

The precise issue was LATAM Colombia saying on its website that users could reserve a ticket online and then pay the fare in cash at their bank at any time thereafter until 24 hours before the trip. But the procedure actually required the payment to be made within 24 hours of the ticket being reserved, a requirement that was incomprehensible to anyone who wanted to pay in cash.

“Airlines are required to provide sufficient, clear, accurate, timely, and precise information to avoid misleading users, as happened in this case,” said Alfredo Bocanegra Varón, general director of Aerocivil.

The fine was levied in local currency, at 242 million pesos. It can be appealed by LATAM Colombia.