Budget airline Ryanair is under investigation for its policy of charging parents to sit with their children on flights. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is examining whether this practice aligns with consumer law. Ryanair has criticized the investigation as baseless and a political maneuver.

According to the CMA, Ryanair mandates at least one parent to sit with children aged two to 11 by requiring a paid family seat reservation, typically priced at around £8 per way. The CMA is exploring whether this charge is connected to child safety and disability obligations as outlined in aviation regulations. Notably, Ryanair is singled out as the only major UK airline imposing such a fee.

In contrast, other airlines seat children with their parents without an additional reservation fee or automatically assign seats together during booking, the CMA pointed out. The investigation will delve into how Ryanair presents its mandatory family seat fee during the booking process, scrutinizing if all charges are transparent upfront.

Hayley Fletcher, from the CMA, emphasized the importance of ensuring families are not burdened with unexpected charges when planning holidays. The investigation aims to assess if Ryanair’s family seat reservation system meets consumer protection laws.

Ryanair defended its policy, stating it complies with all applicable laws and benefits families by offering cost savings. The airline clarified that it does not charge children to sit next to their parents and only requires payment for one reserved adult seat per family. Ryanair criticized the CMA’s inquiry as a misguided attempt to display concern for consumers, while highlighting the potential benefits of abolishing air passenger duty for lowering fares and boosting the UK aviation industry.