Ryanair charging parents faces UK CMA probe over mandatory seating fees

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened a formal inquiry into Ryanair charging parents mandatory seating fees, a practice the carrier introduced to meet child‑safety and disability obligations.

Ryanair charging parents under CMA probe

Pre‑flight surveys indicate the fee ranges from £25 to £30 per seat, a cost that could erode the airline’s price‑lead advantage by ↓ 8% if consumer backlash spreads.

Analysts at Reuters note that Ryanair’s annual ancillary revenue sits near €2.5 bn; a sustained discount pressure might shave off ↓ 12% of that stream.

“We are assessing whether the charge is transparent and proportionate,” a CMA spokesperson told reporters.

Consumer groups argue the policy breaches the EU’s unfair commercial practices directive, while the airline claims the fee offsets additional staffing and equipment required for vulnerable passengers.

Regulators have 60 days to decide on possible enforcement actions; a ruling could set a precedent for low‑cost carriers across Europe.