Ryanair will "reluctantly" adjust its policy to allow parents to sit with their children for free on flights, a move prompted by an investigation into the practice by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The airline, Europe's largest by passenger numbers, previously charged a fee, typically around $10.70 each way per adult, to guarantee that up to four children aged two to 11 could sit next to an accompanying adult.
Under the updated policy, families who do not opt to pay for seat reservations will be allocated seats together at no cost after check-in. These seats are likely to be located in the rear section of the aircraft.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary stated that the airline would "reluctantly adjust to this industry standard as we don’t want to waste time explaining to misguided regulators how badly they misunderstand what is in the best interest of UK and Europe’s consumers." The Ireland-based carrier's decision brings its practices in line with European industry standards.
The CMA launched its inquiry to determine if Ryanair's previous policy violated consumer law. A spokesperson for the CMA confirmed that the agency will continue to assess whether the new policy adheres to legal requirements, adding that the investigation remains ongoing. "It doesn’t change the fact that families have been paying for ‘mandatory family seats,'" the spokesperson noted, indicating the change would be "a win for families."