Ryanair to Refund 100,000 Passengers After Italy's Antitrust Ruling
Ryanair faces a significant payout after Italy's Antitrust authority ruled against its practices. The budget airline must refund over 100,000 passengers a total exceeding 1.5 million euros for airport check-in surcharges. Some affected customers will receive vouchers.
The Antitrust authority found that Ryanair did not clearly inform passengers about ways to avoid the 55 euro surcharge for airport check-in. Instead, the booking process automatically selected additional return flight options, giving the impression they were mandatory. This practice is now deemed unfair and misleading.
Ryanair has agreed to refund the disputed surcharges retroactively, benefiting over 100,000 passengers who paid the fee between 2021 and 2023. Dominik Lelle, a member of AERO INTERNATIONAL's online editorial team, has been following the developments, highlighting the importance of transparency in air travel practices.
Ryanair's refund process is underway, with thousands of passengers set to receive the 55 euro surcharge back. Some may also receive vouchers. The airline must ensure better transparency in its booking process to avoid similar issues in the future.
