The Italian Competition Authority investigates Ryanair for abuse of dominant position in tourist services

MADRID, 20 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Italian Competition Authority (ACGM) has opened an investigation into Ryanair for possible abuse of a dominant position by offering tourists other tourist services unrelated to air transport, such as vehicle rental or hotel reservations.

As noted by the Authority in a statement, the company could be harming travel agencies and consumers by trying to "extend its market power also in the offer of other tourist services."

The investigation responds to several reports received last May stating that Ryanair would be taking advantage of its dominant position in the markets in which it operates to extend its power also in the offer of other tourist services "to the detriment of travel agencies and the clients who turn to them.

In addition, the statement explains that Ryanair "seems to hinder the purchase" of tickets by agencies directly from its own website", allowing them to only purchase them through the Global Distribution System (GDS) under conditions "very worse in terms of price and ticket management".

The Authority also highlights that, for customers, this conduct by the Irish airline would also have consequences, losing quality of its services due to "unjustified difficulties" in managing the reservation.

Ryanair was already in a confrontation with the Italian Government after a decree aimed at limiting the price of domestic tickets to the islands, as published this Wednesday by Bloomberg, a fact that the CEO of Ryanair, Michael O'Leary, has labeled as "illegal" and has threatened to reduce frequencies on the most popular routes in the country.