"Italy's competition authority (AGCM) has hit Ryanair with a fine of more than 255 million ($300 million) for abusing its dominant position. The regulator said the low-cost airline blocked or restricted travel agencies from offering flights combined with other airlines or services. The alleged practices took place from 2023 and continued "at least" until April 2025. Ryanair used 'an abusive strategy'"
""Ryanair rolled out facial recognition procedures on its website aimed at users who purchased their ticket through a travel agency," the authority said in a statement. It added that Europe's largest budget airline then "totally or intermittently blocked booking attempts by travel agencies on its website, for example, by blocking payment methods and mass-deleting accounts." This reduced competition and raised costs for consumers, according to the AGCM."
AGCM fined Ryanair more than €255 million for allegedly abusing a dominant position by blocking or restricting travel agencies from offering flights combined with other airlines or services. The regulator said the practices began in 2023 and persisted at least until April 2025, including the rollout of facial recognition aimed at users who purchased through agencies. The authority reported that Ryanair blocked booking attempts, disabled payment methods, mass-deleted accounts, imposed partnership agreements on OTAs, and ran communications labelling non-signatory agencies as 'pirate OTAs'. AGCM concluded these measures reduced competition and raised costs for consumers. Ryanair said it will appeal.
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