Italy’s competition authority said today it had fined Europe’s largest budget airline Ryanair €256 million for abuse of a dominant position in its dealings with travel agents. The regulator said the airline allegedly blocked or made it more difficult—economically or technically—for travel agencies to offer Ryanair flights in combination with other airlines or services.
The authority said its concerns began when Ryanair introduced facial recognition procedures, later blocked payments from online travel agencies (OTAs), and imposed partnership agreements with travel agents that limited their ability to include Ryanair flights in travel packages. “Its dominant position stems not only from its significant market share, which is continuing to grow, but also from numerous other indicators… (which) contribute to giving Ryanair (a) significant market power and the ability to act independently of competitors and consumers,” the watchdog said in a statement.
The alleged abuse took place from April 2023 to at least April 2025, according to the regulator.
Ryanair said it would appeal the ruling, calling it “bizarre” and “unsound,” and said it disputed the claims. The airline added that the decision is legally flawed and inconsistent with previous court rulings. “Ryanair maintains that its distribution agreements promote price transparency and protect consumers from overcharging by certain OTAs,” the airline said.
CEO Michael O’Leary criticized the regulator’s decision, arguing it would place the Italian competition authority above the Milan courts in determining competition matters. “Ryanair has fought for many years for transparent pricing, and our approved OTA agreements (which have been agreed by almost every large OTA, with the notable exception of one Spanish OTA) are manifestly and clearly pro-consumer,” he said.
O’Leary also pointed to a Milan court ruling in January 2024, which found that Ryanair’s direct distribution model “undoubtedly benefits consumers.” He called the AGCM ruling “an affront to the Precedent Milan Court Ruling, and also an affront to consumer protection and competition law.”
Ryanair highlighted its rapid growth in Italy and across Europe, crediting its strategy of consistently offering the lowest fares in every market it operates in. The airline said the €256 million fine undermines both consumer protection and competition law and expressed confidence it would be overturned on appeal.
Italy’s competition authority has increasingly scrutinized major airlines in recent years over market practices affecting travel agents and consumers, reflecting wider European concerns over fair competition in the travel sector.
