Italy has slapped Ryanair and Wizz with big fines over their carry-on baggage policies, which limit free baggage to what can fit under the seat.
The Italian antitrust authority ruled that most passengers expect to be able to travel with a standard overhead carry-on, and that therefore charging a fee or priority-boarding charge of €5 to €25 is actually a fare hike in a “non-transparent” manner. It has levied a find of €3 million on Ryanair and €1 mllion on Wizz.
When Ryanair, followed by Wizz, announced the new rules in August, Italy ordered them to suspend implementation, saying it was misleading and was unfair competition for airlines that allow free carry-ons. Ryanair at the time rejected the decision, and claimed it was intended to improve on-time performance by speeding up boarding.
The rules took effect in November, leading to the fines and presumably further legal action. Ryanair is a significant player in Italy, where it has become the largest domestic carrier.
