Ryanair returns to the center of the chronicles for a new sanction: the Competition and Market Authority (AGCM) has inflicted on the Irish airline a fine of 1.34 million euros. According to Antitrustust, the company would have abused its dominant position, providing incomplete information during an investigation and limiting competition on low cost flights.
The accusation of the antitrust
AGCM claims that Ryanair has made it more difficult for consumers to compare prices, pushing them to book exclusively through the company’s direct channels, such as the website and the app. A choice that would have penalized agencies and travel portals, narrowing the possibility of evaluating alternatives.
In the reconstruction of the authority, this practice not only reduces the transparency of rates, but also affects connected sectors, from hotels to car rental, to holiday packages, with a negative effect on the overall competition.
Ryanair’s reply
The response of the low cost company was immediate. In an official press release, Ryanair defined the “unfounded” fine and commissioned his lawyers to appeal to court to cancel it.
A spokesman reiterated that the direct distribution model has already been considered by the Milan Court of Appeal, in January 2024, as “undoubtedly advantageous for consumers”. The company claims to have collaborated on the investigation and accuses the AGCM of having conducted an ineffective investigation, even coming to focus on marginal aspects during checks in the Dublin offices.
A conflict that will land in court
The story will not end with the sanction: the Irish company is determined to bring the dispute before the judges. The Antitrustust, on the other hand, defends its decision by underlining the need to protect the freedom of choice of consumers and to avoid behaviors that can alter the transport market.
For Italian passengers, the procedure could become an important test bench: if the accusations will be confirmed, in the future there may be spaces for greater competition and for more transparent rates.
The previous ones
It is not the first time that Ryanair has to face disputes. In 2023, the company had already agreed to reimburse over 1.5 million euros to Italian passengers for supplements considered illegitimate. The new fine, therefore, fits into a path marked by frequent clashes with the authorities.
What does it mean for travelers
Immediately, the fine does not change the methods of purchasing tickets: Ryanair flights remain bookable mainly through direct channels. But the controversy highlights a theme that concerns millions of people: the real possibility of comparing the rates transparently.
For those traveling, some precautions remain valid:
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