CMA investigates Ryanair over charging parents to sit with their children

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has opened an investigation into Ryanair over a seating policy that requires parents to pay about £8 per flight to sit with children aged 2 to 11, including those with disabilities. The CMA is assessing whether the practice breaches consumer law and whether Ryanair uses “drip pricing” by advertising low fares and adding mandatory fees later in the booking process. The regulator says Ryanair may be the only major airline flying out of the UK to impose this charge. Ryanair defends the policy as lawful and cost-saving, and criticized the CMA and the Labour government over air passenger duty. The probe adds regulatory risk for Ryanair and could pressure the airline’s ancillary revenue model if the CMA finds consumer protection breaches or levies penalties.