The Civil Aviation Authority has launched a formal investigation into Ryanair over the airline's policy of charging parents to sit next to their children. The regulator says the practice may breach passenger rights rules introduced to protect families.
Consumer groups have long complained that budget airlines exploit parents by forcing them to pay extra for seat allocation, often separating children from adults on flights. Under current regulations, airlines must ensure that children under 12 are seated next to a parent or guardian at no additional cost.
Campaigners say Ryanair has consistently flouted this rule, charging up to £10 per seat for families to sit together. The investigation will examine whether the airline has systematically failed to comply with guidelines introduced by the Department for Transport in 2021.
Ryanair defended its policy, arguing that families can choose seats together for free by checking in together at the same time. But the CAA said this does not always work in practice, with many parents reporting that their children are seated several rows away, causing distress.
Rory Boland, editor of Which? Travel, welcomed the investigation. "For too long, families have been hit with hidden charges or left anxious about whether they will sit together. This is a clear breach of consumer law. The regulator must act decisively."
A Ryanair spokesperson said: "Ryanair fully complies with all UK regulations and we will cooperate fully with the CAA. Our policy allows families to sit together by checking in as a group."
The investigation could lead to fines for the airline if it is found to have broken the rules. This is the latest in a series of regulatory battles for Ryanair, which has clashed with consumer bodies across Europe over fees and compensation.
For many families, the issue is about more than just money. Anne Williams, a mother from Sheffield, said she paid £40 extra last summer to ensure her seven-year-old daughter sat next to her on a flight to Portugal. "It's extortion. You feel forced to pay because you don't want your child alone with strangers."
The CAA is expected to demand that Ryanair changes its booking system to ensure families are automatically seated together without extra charges. If the airline resists, it could face legal action.
This investigation is a rare step for the CAA, which typically uses informal warnings. The decision to launch a formal probe suggests the regulator is losing patience with low-cost carriers that have found loopholes in the rules.
Ministers have also warned airlines that they must do more to protect passengers. Transport Secretary Mark Harper said: "Families should not be ripped off just to sit together. We will not hesitate to crack down on airlines that break the rules."
The outcome of the investigation will be closely watched by passengers and the aviation industry. If Ryanair is found guilty, it could set a precedent for how all airlines handle family seating.
For now, parents are advised to check the CAA's guidance and report any airline that demands payment for seating children under 12 next to them.
