Travel companies believe that this decision "could set a precedent" for measures to be taken in Portugal to combat the Irish airline's "abusive practices."

At issue is the fact that the Italian Competition Authority fined Ryanair €1,344,400 for obstructing an investigation into its business practices with travel agencies, according to a report by ECO.

Earlier this year, ANAV filed a complaint with the Competition Authority (AdC) against the low-cost airline for abuse of its dominant position, potential violation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and lack of support for people with disabilities, among other allegations.

"The fine imposed by the Italian competition authority should serve as an example, or even as case law, for other European Union countries that it is possible to stand up to Ryanair's lobbying," explains the president of ANAV in a press release.

Miguel Quintas says that "this decision proves that the allegations underlying the complaint we filed this year with the AdC, denouncing this airline's various abusive practices in the national market, are completely well-founded" and provides "hope that, here too, there will be a favourable decision that protects not only travel agencies but, above all, passengers."

In Italy, the Competition and Market Regulatory Authority (AGCM) concluded that Ryanair obstructed the investigation and classified its conduct as “gross negligence”, which is why it imposed a fine of 0.01% of its global revenue, which in 2024 was 13.44 billion euros.