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MILAN (Reuters) -Italy’s antitrust authority (AGCM) said on Thursday it had dropped a case against Ryanair (RYA.IR) after the low-cost airline committed to refund more than 1.5 million euros ($1.6 million) to customers who incurred in extra check-in costs.
Ryanair Italy did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The National Union of Consumers welcomed the announcement from AGCM, but said the regulator should have also fined the airline.
The authority said it had opened an investigation in 2023 into possible unfair commercial practices after complaints that Ryanair had misled passengers about its online check-in policy.
AGCM said passengers were not adequately informed about a 55-euro surcharge for in-person check-in at the airport if they missed a deadline for doing it online.
It also found that customers who paid for priority boarding and a hand luggage allowance on their outbound flight were automatically charged for those services on their return flight.
To settle the case, AGCM said Ryanair pledged to refund all customers who during 2021-2023 filed a complaint about the 55-euro surcharge, and pay back 15 euros or give a 20-euro voucher to all passengers who paid the fee during the period.
The airline also pledged to give clearer information about online check-in deadlines, to no longer automatically apply outbound charges to return flights, and to refund passengers who complained about those charges.
($1 = 0.9484 euros)
(Reporting by Sara Rossi and Alvise Armellini. Editing by Mark Potter)