Ryanair is under investigation by the UK’s competition watchdog over charges imposed on parents who want to sit next to their children during flights.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) confirmed on 11 June 2026 that it had launched a formal probe into the airline’s family seating policy, focusing on whether the fees may breach consumer protection law.
The investigation centres on Ryanair’s requirement that at least one adult travelling with children aged between 2 and 11 must reserve a paid “mandatory family seat” in order to sit beside them. The CMA said the charge typically costs around £8 each way.
The regulator said it would examine whether the airline’s approach unfairly forces parents to pay additional charges for the carrier to meet child safety and disability-related obligations under aviation rules.
The CMA is also investigating whether the charges are presented transparently during the booking process or added later through what regulators describe as “drip pricing”, where unavoidable fees appear only in later stages of a booking.
Hayley Fletcher, Director of Consumer Protection at the CMA, said extra fees can quickly increase holiday costs for families already facing pressure from rising living expenses.
“Lots of families save up to afford a summer holiday and we know that extra charges can quickly bump up the price,” she said.
“Our investigation will consider Ryanair’s approach to family seat reservations and how the cost is presented to consumers to determine whether they comply with consumer law.”
The regulator stressed that the investigation remains at an early stage and no conclusions have yet been reached regarding whether the airline has broken the law.
Ryanair strongly rejected the inquiry, describing it as “bogus” and politically motivated.
The airline said its family seating policy fully complies with all relevant laws and regulations. It also argued that children themselves are not charged for reserved seating.
Under the airline’s current rules, one adult travelling with children must purchase a reserved seat, while up to four children on the same booking can then reserve adjacent seats free of charge.
“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,” Ryanair said in a statement.
The airline also criticised the UK government’s aviation taxation policy, arguing that lower taxes rather than regulatory investigations would do more to reduce fares for consumers.
The CMA said it believes Ryanair is currently the only major airline operating from the UK that imposes such a mandatory family seating charge.
According to the regulator, most other airlines either automatically allocate children next to parents free of charge or allow family seating during booking without additional fees.
The investigation comes amid growing scrutiny of airline ancillary fees across Europe, including charges linked to baggage, seat selection and boarding priority.
Consumer groups and regulators have increasingly questioned whether some airline fees are sufficiently transparent and whether certain charges should be treated as optional when linked to safety or accessibility requirements.
The issue has already triggered legal disputes in parts of Europe. In Italy, aviation authorities previously challenged airline practices involving charges for seating minors next to parents or passengers requiring assistance.
The UK regulator’s investigation could become an important test case for airline pricing practices under strengthened consumer protection powers introduced in Britain.
Under the new rules, the CMA can impose fines of up to 10% of a company’s global turnover if it determines that consumer law has been breached.
If the regulator eventually rules against Ryanair, the airline could be forced to change how family seating fees are displayed or charged during booking.
For now, Ryanair says it will contest the investigation and defend its pricing structure.
