The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into budget airline Ryanair over fees charged to parents for sitting with their children on flights. The probe focuses on the airline's mandatory family seat policy, which requires at least one parent to sit with children aged between two and 11. While seat reservations are optional for other passengers, the family seat typically costs around £8 each way, according to the CMA.
CMA Investigation Details
The regulator confirmed it is examining whether Ryanair's approach to seat reservations means parents are being charged for the airline to meet its child safety and disability-related obligations under aviation rules. The CMA will determine if this practice complies with consumer law.
Ryanair's Response
Ryanair responded with a statement defending its policy. The airline stated: "Ryanair's family seating policy fully complies with all relevant laws and regulations, and saves families money when travelling on the UK's lowest fare airline. Ryanair does not charge any fee for children to sit beside their parent or accompanying adult."
The airline further explained: "Like all adults who select a reserved seat, adults travelling with children pay one reserved seat fee, but can select reserved seats beside them for up to four children on the same booking free of charge. This means that parents travelling with children pay for only one (adult) reserved seat but pay nothing for the four other reserved seats for their children travelling with them."
Ryanair dismissed the investigation as "bogus," claiming it is "a failed effort by the Starmer Government to pretend it cares about consumers when it has failed to abolish APD (air passenger duty) which would immediately deliver lower fares for all consumers and growth for the UK aviation, tourism and wider economy." The airline added that it looks forward to disproving the CMA's claims during the investigation.
