Italy fines Ryanair €256 million for limiting online travel agency ticket sales

Italy's competition authority has fined Ryanair €256 million for abusing its dominant market position to limit ticket sales by online travel agencies, authorities said Tuesday.

The Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato said the airline implemented "an elaborate strategy" of technical and economic obstacles designed to hinder travel agencies from selling Ryanair tickets, particularly when combined with other airlines and services. The conduct occurred between April 2023 and at least April 2025, the authority said.

According to the authority, Ryanair blocked, obstructed, or made it difficult and costly for online travel agents and physical travel agencies to purchase flights through ryanair.com. The strategy weakened competition by preventing agents from offering Ryanair flights in combination with other carriers and services.

The authority noted that Ryanair controls approximately 40 percent of passenger traffic on routes to and from Italy, a market share that allowed the airline to operate without meaningful constraints from competitors or consumers.

Ryanair said it would immediately appeal the decision, calling the ruling "legally flawed," "bizarre and unfounded." The airline's chief executive, Michael O'Leary, had previously described online travel agents such as Booking.com, Kiwi, and Kayak as "pirate" travel agents.

In its appeal statement, Ryanair cited a January 2024 ruling by the Milan Court that found the airline's direct distribution model "undoubtedly" offers consumer benefits and leads to "competitive fares."

The fine was issued jointly against Ryanair DAC and its parent company, Ryanair Holdings plc.