Italy’s competition watchdog has launched a formal investigation into a prominent British airline for suspected anti-competitive behaviors. The focus of the probe on British ultra-low-cost carrier easyJet revolves around the transparency of its baggage fees displayed on its online platform and mobile application.
According to Italy’s Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM), passengers were potentially misled by the way easyJet bundled checked baggage and sports equipment for round trips as the default option, presenting only an average price without the option to purchase separately for each leg of the journey. This could have limited consumers’ ability to make well-informed decisions during the booking process.
The regulator highlighted that customers wanting to add luggage for only one leg of the journey had to intervene in the booking process to adjust the settings, a step that might have gone unnoticed by most users. The ongoing investigation aims to ascertain whether easyJet’s pricing structure created ambiguous conditions and hindered customers from making clear choices.
In response to the probe, a spokesperson for easyJet stated that the airline would cooperate fully with the authority during the investigation, emphasizing its commitment to adhering to consumer protection laws and ensuring transparency and fairness for its customers. The airline plans to review the AGCM’s decision carefully before deciding on the appropriate course of action.
Notably, in May 2021, easyJet, along with Ryanair and Volotea, faced a €2.8 million fine from the AGCM for not offering cash refunds to passengers when Italy lifted its COVID-19 travel restrictions, opting instead to provide vouchers. Despite easyJet’s appeal, the Lazio Regional Administrative Court in Rome rejected the challenge in February 2025.
