Ryanair to Allow Parents to Sit with Children for Free Amid Inquiry

Ryanair Changes Policy for Family Seating

Europe’s largest airline by passenger numbers, Ryanair, has decided to allow parents to sit with their children for free, marking a significant change in their policy. This move brings Ryanair in line with European industry standards.

In the past, Ryanair used to charge a fee of $10.70 per adult for each journey to enable up to four children aged 2 to 11 sit next to an adult. However, families who do not choose to reserve seats will now be allocated random seats together for free after check-in, probably toward the rear of the plane, as per Reuters.

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Ryanair’s CEO, Michael O’Leary, stated that the company would grudgingly adjust to this industry standard, as they have no desire to waste time explaining to regulators who fail to understand what’s in the best interest for UK and Europe’s consumers.

This policy change by the budget carrier based in Ireland, Ryanair, came after the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) initiated an investigation into whether the original seating policy was in violation of consumer law.

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A spokesperson from the CMA stated that they would test whether the new policy is in compliance with the law. Although they acknowledged that the change would be a win for families, they also added that the investigation is still ongoing.

“It doesn’t change the fact that families have been paying for ‘mandatory family seats,’ ” the spokesperson said.

For further updates, stay connected with FOX Business. FOX Business has made attempts to reach out to the CMA for comments.