Italy’s competition authority has launched an official investigation into a prominent UK airline for suspected unfair business practices.
The probe targets British ultra-low-cost carrier easyJet and centers on how the airline displays and structures baggage fees on its website and mobile app, according to Italy’s Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM).
The AGCM stated that passengers were frequently misled about the actual costs, as easyJet automatically bundled checked baggage and sports equipment for round trips, presenting only an average price for the overall service even if customers did not require it for both legs of their journey.
The regulator highlighted that customers wanting to add luggage for just one leg had to intervene in the booking process to change the default setting, a step that most consumers might overlook or find challenging.
The investigation aims to determine if easyJet’s booking system created ambiguous pricing conditions and restricted consumers from making fully informed decisions.
In response, an easyJet spokesperson informed Euronews that the airline would cooperate fully with the AGCM during the inquiry, asserting their compliance with consumer protection laws and commitment to transparency and fairness for customers.
Notably, in May 2021, the AGCM fined easyJet, Ryanair, and Volotea €2.8 million for failing to refund cash to passengers when Italy eased COVID-19 travel restrictions, opting to issue vouchers instead. Although easyJet appealed the decision, the Lazio Regional Administrative Court in Rome dismissed the challenge in February 2025.