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Italy antitrust authority opens probe into easyJet over baggage fees - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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Italy antitrust authority opens probe into easyJet over baggage fees

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on May 26, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: May 26, 2026

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Italy antitrust authority opens probe into easyJet over baggage pricing

Overview of the Investigation

Background and Announcement

MILAN, May 26 (Reuters) - Italy's antitrust authority said on Tuesday it has opened an investigation into easyJet Airline Company Limited over alleged unfair business practices.

Details of the Alleged Practices

Advertising of Baggage Pricing

The authority said the company's website and app advertised only the average price for checked baggage and sports equipment on round trips, but made bundled purchases the default option, even when customers did not want them.

Impact on Consumers

Potential for Misleading Pricing

Consumers could, therefore, be misled about the actual price for each leg of the journey and would have to interrupt the online booking process to override easyJet's default option if they wanted the add-on for only one leg of the journey, it said.

Response from easyJet

easyJet was not immediately available for comment.

(Reporting by Gianluca Semeraro, editing by Cristina Carlevaro and Bernadette Baum)

Key Takeaways

  • The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) alleges easyJet’s website/app defaults to including bundled baggage for round trips, showing only an average service price, which may mislead customers about the cost for one‑way segments citeturn0search?
  • This follows broader scrutiny by the AGCM over ancillary airline fees and pricing transparency, including past investigations into Vueling and pressure on the EU for clearer disclosure of travel add‑on costs (ansa.it)
  • EasyJet has previously faced criticism and regulatory action over misleading baggage pricing, such as an ASA ruling in early 2026 that its “from GBP5.99” claim for cabin bags was unattainable on most routes (marketscreener.com)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Italy's antitrust authority investigating easyJet?
Italy's antitrust authority is probing easyJet over alleged unfair business practices related to bundled baggage and sports equipment fees.
What specific practices are under investigation?
The investigation focuses on easyJet's website and app making bundled baggage for round trips the default, and displaying average prices even if selected for only one leg.
Was easyJet available for comment on the investigation?
EasyJet was not immediately available for a comment regarding the investigation.
What does the alleged unfair practice involve?
It involves easyJet automatically adding checked baggage and sports equipment for both legs of a round trip and only showing average prices.

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