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A Belgian court has ordered Dublin-based airline Ryanair Holdings PLC to end several commercial practices deemed ‘illegal’ within three months or face financial penalties, according to a copy of the ruling obtained Tuesday by AFP. The practices targeted include pressuring customers to book quickly by suggesting flights are nearly full, as well as pushing bundled options covering seat selection, baggage and other services without clearly disclosing the price of each component. The case was brought before the Brussels commercial court by consumer protection group Testachats. The organisation had singled out almost a dozen practices on Ryanair’s website and mobile app that it considered ‘misleading, aggressive or unfair.’ In its ruling issued on January 28, the court determined four of those practices were ‘illegal’, mainly over the issue of price display. One involved offering consumers an apparent discount ‘by announcing a false reference price.’ The lowcost carrier was ordered to halt the offending practices within three months of being served the judgment, or face a penalty of €5,000 per violation per day, the text says. Ryanair did not immediately respond to AFP’s request for comment. ‘We will try to set a calendar for discussions with the company to address improvements in transparency, which is the most important point for us,’ Testachats spokesman JeanPhilippe Ducart told AFP. The group says Ryanair uses pressure tactics that hinder consumers from taking the time to compare fares offered by rival airlines. ‘We want prices to be clearly displayed, with each service listed separately. Consumers have the right to be properly informed, without manipulation, so they can make decisions in full knowledge of the facts,’ Ducart added. Ryanair shares were 1.3% lower at €28.80 each on Tuesday afternoon in Dublin. source: AFP Copyright 2026 Alliance News Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
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