Italian Top Court Annuls €4.2M Fine, Citing Regulator Discrimination Against Ryanair

summarizeSummary

Italy's top court annulled a €4.2 million fine against Ryanair, finding the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) acted discriminatorily, which significantly strengthens Ryanair's appeal against a much larger €256 million fine.

check_boxKey Events

• Italian Court Annuls €4.2M Fine

  Italy's Council of State, the country's top administrative court, issued a final and binding judgment annulling a €4.2 million fine imposed on Ryanair by the AGCM in 2021 related to Covid flight cancellations, and ordered full repayment with interest.

• AGCM Found Discriminatory

  The court found that the AGCM discriminated against Ryanair by rejecting its proposed commitments without dialogue, while accepting similar commitments from other airlines, breaching core principles of administrative and competition law.

• Strengthens Appeal Against €256M Fine

  Ryanair stated that this ruling provides a damning context for the AGCM's separate €256 million fine imposed in December 2025 for its direct distribution policy, and significantly bolsters Ryanair's appeal against that larger fine.

• Call for Regulatory Reform

  Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, called on Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to urgently reform the AGCM to address the perception of bias and ensure fair conduct.

auto_awesomeAnalysis

This ruling is a significant legal victory for Ryanair, not primarily for the €4.2 million fine repayment, but because it establishes a precedent that the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) acted discriminatorily. This finding significantly strengthens Ryanair's ongoing appeal against a separate, much larger €256 million fine from the AGCM. The court's determination of discriminatory conduct by a national regulator could lead to the overturning of the larger fine, thereby reducing a substantial regulatory risk and potential financial liability for the company.