Ryanair fined €256m over ‘abusive strategy’ to limit ticket sales by online travel agencies
Italy’s competition authority says Irish airline implemented technical obstacles to force sales through its own website
TL;DR
- Ryanair fined €256m by Italy's competition authority.
- Fine relates to abusing dominant market position to limit online travel agent ticket sales.
- Airline used technical obstacles and security measures to push sales through its own website.
- Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary described online travel agents as 'pirates' charging extra fees.
- The airline will immediately appeal the ruling, calling it 'legally flawed'.
- Ryanair's tactics included facial recognition and blocking payment methods for third-party bookings.
- Despite lower sales from these tactics, Ryanair has reached a record valuation of €31bn.