Ryanair has been forced to change its family seating policy after a backlash over charges that saw parents paying extra to sit beside their children on flights.
The budget airline confirmed it will now offer “free parent seats” at the back of its aircraft, with children on the same booking automatically seated alongside them at no extra cost.
The move comes after the Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation into whether Ryanair’s previous policy complied with consumer protection rules.
Previously, parents travelling with children aged between two and 11 were required to pay for a “mandatory family seat” — typically around £8 each way — while their children were allocated nearby seats for free.
Under the new system, families can still pay to choose preferred seats, but those unwilling to pay will be placed together without an additional charge.
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary hit back at the regulator, accusing it of targeting the airline while ignoring high fares charged elsewhere in the industry.
He claimed the change was being forced by regulators despite the previous system being “transparent” and popular with customers.
The airline warned that families may now have to wait until check-in to discover their exact seat location and could be placed towards the rear of the cabin.
Consumer campaigners welcomed the move, with Which? Travel editor Rory Boland arguing the policy should have changed sooner.
The row marks another clash between Europe’s biggest budget airline and regulators over passenger charges, as airlines face growing scrutiny over the extra costs added on top of cheap fares.
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