Ryanair given three months to end 'illegal' practices
Belgian court however rules that airline is entitled to charge extra for carry-on luggage
A Belgian court has ordered Irish airline Ryanair 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 low-cost airline nevertheless welcomed the ruling as the court dismissed many of the other claims brought by consumer protection group Testachats.
The firm was particularly pleased that the Brussels commercial court found it was within its right to charge passengers extra for carry-on luggage -- a practice that European lawmakers would like to ban.
"We welcome this clear and comprehensive ruling confirming... that Ryanair's cabin bag policy is fully compliant with EU law," said the company's chief marketing officer, Dara Brady.
Testachats 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 low‑cost 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.
"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 Jean‑Philippe 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.