Ryanair, Europe’s biggest airline, is under investigation by the UK’s competition watchdog over charges it imposes on families with young children to sit together. Paying for a specific seat is optional on Ryanair flights, unless travelling with a child aged between two and 11 who must be accompanied by at least one parent.
Investigation Details
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said Thursday that it’s investigating “suspected infringements of consumer law in relation to Ryanair’s use of a potentially unfair mandatory fee.” Ryanair called the investigation “bogus” and said that its seating policy “fully complies with all relevant laws.”
The CMA believes the policy “is used across the majority of Ryanair’s UK routes.” The airline’s website offers “free reserved seats for kids under 12” but says accompanying adults must pay for a seat in order to secure a place next to them. The investigation has been launched to determine whether the practice is “unfair” under consumer law.
Ryanair described the action as a “bogus investigation” in an email sent to CNN Thursday. The airline’s seating policy “fully complies with all relevant laws and regulations,” adding that the company does not charge “any fee for children to sit beside their parent or accompanying adult.”
The CMA said the investigation had only just begun and that no conclusion had been reached as to whether Ryanair has broken the law. It expects to report back within six months. The investigation is part of a broader intention by the CMA to ease the impact of cost of living pressures in Britain.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
