[6-K] RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC Current Report (Foreign Issuer)
Filing Impact
Filing Sentiment
Form Type
6-K
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
Report of Foreign Private Issuer
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the
month of May 2026
RYANAIR HOLDINGS PLC
(Translation
of registrant's name into English)
c/o Ryanair Ltd Corporate Head Office
Dublin Airport
County Dublin Ireland
(Address
of principal executive offices)
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant files or will file
annual
reports
under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form
20-F..X.. Form 40-F
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information
contained
in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the
Commission
pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities
Exchange
Act of
1934.
Yes
No ..X..
If
"Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant
in
connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- ________
ITALY'S TOP COURT CONFIRMS AGCM (COMPETITION AUTHORITY)
DISCRIMINATED AGAINST RYANAIR
ORDERS FULL REPAYMENT OF €4.2M FINE PLUS INTEREST TO
RYANAIR
Ryanair, Europe's No.1 airline, today (Wed 13 May) called on
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to urgently reform the
Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) to address the perception of
bias following today's ruling by the Italian Council of State which
exposed discriminatory and unlawful conduct by the AGCM towards
Ryanair.
Italy's Council of State, today issued a final and binding judgment
annulling the €4.2m AGCM fine imposed on Ryanair in 2021 in
relation to Covid flight cancellations. Crucially, the Court found
that the AGCM had discriminated against
Ryanair by rejecting its
proposed commitments without dialogue, while accepting similar
commitments from other airlines, including Alitalia, Vueling and
Blue Panorama. The Council of State held that the AGCM's conduct
breached core principles of administrative and competition law,
stating that the AGCM's discretion had been
exercised "in a manner inconsistent with
the principles of coherence, reasonableness and
non-discrimination".
These findings are deeply damaging to the AGCM's reputation, and
provide a damning context to the AGCM's bizarre €256m fine
imposed on Ryanair, for its direct distribution policy, which
ignored the precedent ruling of the Milan Court of Appeal in Jan
2024. In that judgment, the Milan Court of Appeal confirmed that
Ryanair's direct distribution model:
●
"undoubtedly benefit[s] consumers" by
leading to lower fares
●
is "economically
justified in terms of
containing operating costs, and eliminating the costs associated
with intermediation in ticket sales"
●
"contribute[s] to…a direct channel of communication…for
any possible need for information and updates on
flights".
The Council of State's ruling that the AGCM discriminated against
Ryanair, raises serious questions about whether the AGCM staff can
be trusted or relied upon to act objectively, consistently and in
accordance with judicial precedent, particularly where Ryanair is
concerned.
Ryanair has appealed the legally flawed €256m AGCM ruling and
is confident that, as in the above Covid cancellation case, the
Italian courts will again uphold the rule of law, and overturn
another unsound and flawed AGCM fine in a case involving
Ryanair.
Ryanair's Michael O'Leary said:
"Today's binding ruling by the Council
of State raises serious questions about the AGCM's impartiality and
its treatment of Ryanair. The Court ruled that the
AGCM discriminated against
Ryanair by applying
different standards than it did to other airlines in equivalent
cases, which is in clear breach of the basic principles of
justice.
These findings are deeply damaging to
the AGCM's reputation, and give clear context to the AGCM's bizarre
Dec 2025 €256m fine (for our direct distribution policy),
which contradicts the clear precedent ruling of the Milan Court of
Appeal in January 2024, where Ryanair's direct distribution model
was found to 'undoubtedly benefit
consumers' and deliver
competitive fares. Ryanair has appealed this legally flawed AGCM
fine and is confident that, once again, the Italian courts will
uphold the rule of law, respect judicial precedent, and overturn
another unlawful AGCM ruling. We call on Prime Minister Giorgia
Meloni to urgently reform the AGCM to ensure it acts fairly and in
the best interest of consumers, rather than unfairly targeting
Ryanair with baseless claims and unlawful
fines."
ENDS
For further info
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please contact:
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Ryanair Press
Office
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Tel:
+353-1-9451799
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press@ryanair.com
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.
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RYANAIR
HOLDINGS PLC
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Date: 13
May, 2026
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By:___/s/
Juliusz Komorek____
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Juliusz
Komorek
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Company
Secretary
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