Ryanair hits out at Italy watchdog after court revokes Covid fine

(Alliance News) - Ryanair Holdings PLC on Wednesday said a EUR4.2 million 2021 penalty imposed by Italy's competition watchdog has been annulled, and the carrier is confident a much chunkier, more recent fine will be revoked.

Italy's Council of State issued a final and binding judgment annulling a EUR4.2 million fine by the Italian Competition Authority, AGCM, imposed in 2021. That fine was related to Covid-19 flight cancellations.

"Crucially, the Court found that the AGCM had discriminated against Ryanair by rejecting its proposed commitments without dialogue, while accepting similar commitments from other airlines, including Alitalia, Vueling and Blue Panorama," the Dublin-based budget airline said.

"These findings are deeply damaging to the AGCM's reputation."

Ryanair said the verdict also provides a "damning context" to the AGCM's EUR256 million fine it slapped the carrier with in December.

The AGCM imposed the fine on Ryanair, alleging it abused its dominant position to prevent travel agencies access to its services. The AGCM said Irish carrier Ryanair used "an abusive strategy" that made it difficult for travel agencies to combine Ryanair flights with other services between 2023 and at least April 2025.

Ryanair said on Wednesday: "The Council of State's ruling that the AGCM discriminated against Ryanair, raises serious questions about whether the AGCM staff can be trusted or relied upon to act objectively, consistently and in accordance with judicial precedent, particularly where Ryanair is concerned.

"Ryanair has appealed the legally flawed EUR256 million AGCM ruling and is confident that, as in the above Covid cancellation case, the Italian courts will again uphold the rule of law, and overturn another unsound and flawed AGCM fine in a case involving Ryanair."

Ryanair shares were down 0.2% at EUR22.80 each in Dublin on Wednesday morning.

By Eric Cunha, Alliance News news editor

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