EU crackdown on airline extra fees targets Ryanair parental seat charge

The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened an investigation into Ryanair over a mandatory £8‑9 (about €9) charge that parents must pay to sit next to their children on flights. Ryanair denies the allegation, calling the probe "false" and accusing the British government of politicising consumer issues. The CMA said it will assess whether the charge breaches UK consumer‑protection law.

At the same time, the European Parliament and EU member states have reached an agreement on a reform of passenger‑rights rules that will prohibit airlines from levying certain ancillary fees, including the parental seat surcharge examined in the UK case. The reform also bans fees for correcting name‑entry errors, while retaining existing compensation entitlements for flight delays and cancellations. The changes are expected to be formally approved in the coming weeks.