The Brussels Commercial Court has ordered Ryanair to cease certain commercial and marketing practices, following complaints lodged by Belgian consumer association, Testachats.
According to a ruling seen by Reuters, the court said Ryanair must stop a number of practices such as:
- Bundled fares: The court found that passengers selecting certain fares were automatically presented with add-ons without clear disclosure that those services could be purchased separately at a lower total cost.
- Promotional messaging: The court found that certain discount claims relied on reference pricing and messaging suggesting limited seat availability, which created a sense of urgency that might mislead consumers.
- Baggage pricing transparency: The court held that the airline had failed to clearly display separate checked baggage fees for flights, limiting passengers’ ability to assess the full cost of travel.
Ryanair will have to pay a penalty of €5 000 (R94 505) per day if it does not comply within the next three months.
However, the court did not find the airline’s policies on charging for larger cabin baggage or for seat selection to ensure children are seated next to accompanying adults to be unlawful.
