Ryanair fined €256m euros by Italian regulator for blocking online travel agents

Ryanair has reached a record valuation of €31 billion euros making it the worlds second most valuable airline after Delta Air Lines. The Irish carrier has recently been fined €256 million euros by Italys competition authority for deploying obstructive tactics that restricted the sale of its tickets by online travel agencies.

According to the regulator Ryanair used a range of technical barriers designed to force passengers to book directly on its own website. These obstacles included the abrupt removal of flights from third party travel agent platforms, additional form requirements under the pretext of enhanced security, and facial recognition procedures for those purchasing tickets via third party channels.

The Italian authority found that Ryanair’s actions between April 2023 and at least April 2025 were an abuse of its dominant position within the market. By blocking or hindering the ability of agents to combine Ryanair flights with those of other airlines, the airline weakened competition and imposed partnership agreements that precluded the sale of Ryanair tickets in combination with other services such as insurance and tourism offerings.

Despite a temporary drop in ticket sales following the removal of Ryanair flights from agents websites in late 2023, the airline’s valuation has continued to climb. Ryanair has argued that booking directly via its website delivers lower fares to consumers by cutting out intermediary costs, noting that the majority of sales already occurred through its own channels even before its clampdown on travel agents. Michael OLeary, the chief executive, has strongly criticised third party agents, suggesting they levy excessive fees and mislead consumers.

OLeary insists that Ryanair’s approach supports competition and consumer protection. He has described the regulatory ruling as legally unsound and has committed to appealing the decision. Ryanair maintains that the fine and associated findings do not reflect the realities of the digital marketplace, where airlines should have the freedom to set their distribution strategies.

Only as of April this year have travel agencies received the capacity to integrate their systems with Ryanairs website, a move the Italian regulator said finally permitted meaningful competition in the sale of Ryanair flights. The case highlights the evolving tension between dominant airline operators and the online travel agency sector as digital distribution channels become increasingly central to the aviation industry.