Emirates, Turkish, Royal Air Maroc and six other airlines have come in for a sharp reprimand from the European Union for misleading customers through their websites. Aeroflot, Northwest and Olympic also figure in the list of airlines that post misleading advertisements on their websites.

The ''black list'' includes airlines that that feature misleading advertisements and resort to unfair practices and is the result of an 18-month crackdown on 137 airlines websites across 15 EU countries and Norway.

Many of the complaints relate to hidden extra costs that the airlines charge under cover of deceptive ''headline'' prices.

Websites were judged on the basis of a 14-point check list, which asked if all such extra charges including taxes, charges and fees were included, and if extra costs were added as opt-in or opt-out options.

EU consumer protection commissioner, Meglena Kuneva, said that while 115 of the offending websites that were found violating EU rules have said they would fall in line, the nine airlines chose to ignore or failed to respond adequately to the EU's complaints.

She added that it sent the message that they could not care less about their consumers.

However officials pointed to the fact that the vast majority of airlines - 52 out of 67 - have either received a "clean bill of health", or have promised to addressed the issues raised.

Previous offenders such as low-cost carrier Ryanair and Austrian Airlines also figure in the list.

According to Kuneva, the crackdown has shown that the first pan-European enforcement investigation has real teeth and can deliver.

Persistent offenders are now required to comply with the regulations by Julyor face action of the European Commission which launched the investigation in September 2007.

Meanwhile consumers would do well to look out for unclear prince information, whereby extra non-optional charges are included in the booking process. Also they need to be especially careful about eye-catching offers promising availability where in fact, there is none.

Other problems that consumers need to be  careful about include contract terms written in a different language, prices quoted in unfamiliar currency and no contact details for website.

Among the airlines that have received a clean bill of health are Iberia, SAS and TAP, Finnair, Air Malta and Tarom.

Airlines that have promised to correcting existing deficiencies include Lufthansa, Alitalia, Air Lingus, Austrian Airlines, Lot, Brussels airlines, Swiss, Ryanair and Easyjet