Ryanair Fined €256m by Italy's Competition Authority for Anti-Competitive Practices Against Online Travel Agencies
Italy's competition authority has fined Ryanair €256 million for abusing its dominant market position to limit ticket sales through online travel agencies (OTAs). The conduct took place from April 2023 to at least April 2025.
The authority stated that Ryanair implemented an elaborate strategy involving technical obstacles aimed at hindering OTAs and redirecting sales exclusively through ryanair.com. This approach weakened competition and disadvantaged third-party sellers.
Ryanair's tactics included the use of facial recognition technology for third-party purchases, blocking booking and payment attempts, mass deletion of OTA agency accounts, and pressuring agencies into exclusive agreements that banned cross-carrier sales.
In April 2025, linkages with OTAs were restored, allowing them to reconnect with Ryanair’s services and providing consumers with more competitive booking options.
Ryanair announced it would appeal the ruling, describing it as legally flawed. CEO Michael O’Leary defended the airline's internet distribution model as a means to enable low fares and rejected the decision's findings.
Despite the fine, Ryanair has achieved a record valuation of €31 billion (£27 billion), ranking it as the world’s second-most valuable airline after Delta Air Lines. O’Leary is expected to hand over control within the next 5 to 10 years and stands to receive €111 million in shares if he remains with the company until the end of July 2028.
