Italy’s antitrust regulator has fined Europe’s largest budge airline, Ryanair, for $300 million over dealings with travel agencies. However, Ryanair has immediately responded that the ruling will be appealed.
Italy Antitrust Regulator Fines Ryanair
On December 23, 2025, the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) officially fined Ryanair on the grounds of abuse of a dominant position. Allegedly, it was more difficult either economically or technically for travel agents to offer Ryanair flights in combination with other airlines, taking place between April 2023 and April 2025.
A statement from the AGCM watchdog was shared on this subject:
“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.”
During this period, the airline supposedly introduced facial recognition procedures, only to then block bookings from Travel agencies by ways such as “blocking payment methods and mass-deleting accounts linked to OTA bookings.” Alongside this, partnership agreements were imposed, limiting the abilities of travel agents to offer Ryanair in travel packages.
Ryanair’s Immediate Response
However, Ryanair has immediately instructed its lawyers to appeal the ruling, claiming that both the ruling and fine are legally unsound. In January 2024, the Milan Court found Ryanair’s direct distribution model to be beneficial to consumers, a fact that this fine completely ignores.
Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, commented on the matter:
“If today’s legally unsound AGCM Ruling and fine is not appealed, then the AGCM proposes to set itself above the Milan Courts in making competition decisions. 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, who continues to overcharge its customers for flights and ancillary services) are manifestly and clearly pro-consumer.”
Additionally, Ryanair claims that the AGCM has ignored the airline’s non-dominant share in the Italian market, which is just over 30%, to invent this idea of Ryanair holding a dominant position over the Italian air travel market. With this quick response, Ryanair has expressed its full confidence that the ruling will be successfully overturned.
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