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Italy court overturns $4.9 million Ryanair fine over COVID-19 flights - Finance news and analysis from Global Banking & Finance Review
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Italy court overturns $4.9 million Ryanair fine over COVID-19 flights

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on May 13, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: May 13, 2026

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Italy court overturns $4.9 million Ryanair fine over COVID-19 flights

Ryanair's Legal Victory Against Italian Competition Authority

May 13 (Reuters) - Italy's top administrative court annulled a 4.2 million euro ($4.93 million) fine by the country's competition authority against Ryanair over COVID-19 flight cancellations, the airline said on Wednesday.

Court's Reasoning and Discrimination Claims

"The Court ruled that the AGCM discriminated against Ryanair by applying different standards than it did to other airlines in equivalent cases," Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary said in a statement, referring to the antitrust regulator. 

CEO's Response and Calls for Reform

O'Leary called on Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to "urgently reform" the regulator and said the airline was also appealing a separate 256 million euro fine imposed by the agency in December.

Exchange Rate and Reporting Details

($1 = 0.8524 euros)

(Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; Editing by Mrigank Dhaniwala)

Key Takeaways

  • The 4.2 million euros fine was originally levied in May 2021 for failing to reimburse passengers after flight cancellations post‑June 3, 2020, during the COVID‑19 pandemic, and favoring vouchers over cash refunds (ansa.it).
  • Ryanair appealed the ruling, stating it had complied with EU261 regulations by offering refunds, vouchers, and flight changes—leading to today’s annulment by Italy’s top administrative court (euronews.com).
  • This decision aligns with other recent court victories for Ryanair in Italy, including overrulings of fines for operational disruptions deemed exceptional, such as air traffic control delays (travelextra.ie).

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Ryanair fined €4.2 million by Italy's competition authority?
Ryanair was fined €4.2 million over flight cancellations that occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Who annulled the fine against Ryanair?
Italy's top administrative court annulled the €4.2 million fine against Ryanair.
How much was the fine translated in US dollars?
The fine amounted to approximately $4.93 million.
What was the basis for overturning the Ryanair fine?
The court decision annulled the fine imposed by the competition authority over COVID-19 related flight cancellations.

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