The Regional Court of Hamburg imposed a fine on Ryanair Holdings plc for refusing to comply with a May 2025 injunction that ordered the airline to remove prohibited terms from its website. The court also declared several of Ryanair’s core commercial practices unlawful, including its non‑refundable policy, abusive tax‑refund fees, and a pre‑ticked consent mechanism that automatically checked a Terms & Conditions box when users clicked a “Search” button.
The injunction required Ryanair to eliminate the prohibited terms and to adjust its website’s user‑consent process. Ryanair’s failure to do so was deemed a breach of the court order, prompting the fine—whose amount was not disclosed in the court’s statement. The ruling specifically identified the non‑refundable policy and the tax‑refund fee structure as unlawful, and it prohibited the use of the pre‑ticked consent mechanism that had been criticized for misleading consumers.
Ryanair’s corporate statement welcomed the Hamburg ruling, describing it as a vindication of its position against online travel agencies and a confirmation that its direct‑booking model offers lower fares. The airline reiterated that it views the court’s findings as a defense of its business model and a challenge to the practices of third‑party distributors.
The Hamburg decision follows a pattern of regulatory scrutiny. In December 2025, a court in Italy imposed a €256 million fine on Ryanair for abuse of dominance, while a Spanish court upheld a €108 million fine in November 2024 for consumer‑rights violations. These actions illustrate a growing willingness among European courts to enforce consumer protection and competition laws against low‑cost carriers.
The cumulative effect of these fines and the new Hamburg ruling is likely to increase Ryanair’s compliance costs and necessitate operational adjustments to its website and refund policies. The airline may also face reputational damage, which could influence customer perception and affect its cost structure in the short term. The pattern of enforcement signals that European regulators are tightening scrutiny of low‑cost carriers’ commercial practices.
The Hamburg ruling underscores a broader trend of European courts actively enforcing consumer‑protection and competition regulations. For Ryanair, the decision adds to a series of legal challenges that could reshape its business model, prompting a reassessment of its ancillary‑fee strategy and its relationship with online travel agencies. The airline’s ability to adapt to these regulatory pressures will be a key factor in its future competitiveness and financial performance.
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