"Ryanair has been fined 256m (223m) by Italy's competition authority for abusing its dominant market position to limit sales of tickets by online travel agents. The authority said Europe's largest airline had implemented an abusive strategy to hinder travel agencies via an elaborate strategy of technical obstacles for agents and passengers to make it difficult for online travel agents to sell Ryanair tickets and instead force sales through its own website."
"O'Leary accused the travel agent industry of scamming and ripping off unsuspecting consumers by charging extra fees and markups on ticket prices. O'Leary was prepared to accept lower ticket sales as he tried to prevent travel agents from selling tickets, forcing their passengers to fill out extra forms supposedly as a security measure. The abrupt removal of Ryanair flights from agents' websites in late 2023 caused a drop in sales for the airline."
An Italian competition authority fined Ryanair 256m (223m) for abusing a dominant market position and obstructing online travel agents between April 2023 and at least April 2025. Ryanair implemented technical obstacles for agents and passengers to hinder ticket sales by third-party agents and to force sales through its own website, including preventing combined bookings with other airlines and requiring extra forms as a security measure. The abrupt removal of Ryanair flights from agents' websites in late 2023 caused a drop in sales and dented profits. Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary targeted agents he called pirates, accepted lower sales, and faces succession and share awards.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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