Investigations into Ryanair have reached a new phase as competition regulators from Ireland and Italy launch an inspection of the airline’s Dublin headquarters. This development was confirmed by the airline who received investigators from Italy’s AGCM competition authority along with its Irish peer, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, at around half past midnight on a recent Friday.
Allegations surrounding the firm, made by Italian online travel agencies (OTAs), involve claims of digital piracy, and overpricing by OTAs. The probe is centred on these claims, and Ryanair stated its willingness to be fully compliant with the ongoing investigation. It further highlighted its proactive and successful efforts to address these issues.
Recent weeks have seen several OTAs align with Ryanair, entering into approved agreements aimed at ceasing screen scraping of the Ryanair.com website and halting overcharging practices. These include excessive fares, additional charges, and fabricated fees for non-existent services.
Ryanair won a previous case in February 2024 when the Milan Court of Appeal dismissed accusations by Italian OTAs that the airline was infringing on Italian competition laws.
As of now, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission has yet to comment. Furthermore, in September 2023, allegations of potential market domination abuses launched an investigation by the Italian competition authority. As this story develops, further updates can be expected.
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