The British competition authority has opened an investigation against Ryanair for the fees charged to parents who wish to sit next to their children.

The British Competition Authority (CMA) has announced the opening of an investigation against the low-cost airline Ryanair, regarding the fees charged to parents to sit next to their children aged between 2 and 11 years. Ryanair requires the booking of a 'family seat' for a fee, while for other passengers, seat reservation is optional.

The fees for this service generally amount to approximately £8 per journey. The CMA emphasizes that this practice is prohibited in Italy, but is used on most Ryanair routes in the United Kingdom.

The company has criticized the investigation, stating that it complies with all regulations and does not charge fees for up to four child seats in a booking. The CMA will present a report on the progress of the investigation within six months, without drawing any conclusions regarding the legality of these fees for now.