The regulator has launched an inquiry into whether the airline’s family seating policy complies with consumer protection laws and whether passengers are being charged unfairly to meet requirements designed to keep children seated with a parent or guardian.

Under Ryanair’s current policy, at least one adult travelling with children aged between two and 11 must reserve a designated family seat. While children can be seated next to that adult without an additional seating charge, the accompanying parent or guardian must pay for the reserved seat.

According to the CMA, the fee typically ranges between £4 and £12 per flight, depending on the route and seat selected.

The watchdog will examine whether these charges place consumers at an unfair disadvantage and whether the airline’s pricing practices are sufficiently transparent during the booking process.

The investigation will also look at whether the costs are clearly disclosed upfront or appear later during booking, an issue often referred to as “drip pricing”. UK rules introduced in recent years have sought to crack down on mandatory charges that are not made clear at the start of a purchase.

Ryanair has rejected the allegations and described the investigation as unfounded. The airline maintains that its family seating policy complies with all applicable regulations and argues that children are able to sit beside a parent without paying a separate seating fee.

The carrier says only the accompanying adult is required to purchase a reserved seat and that up to four children on the same booking can then be assigned seats next to that adult free of charge.

The CMA stressed that the investigation remains at an early stage and that no conclusions have yet been reached regarding whether consumer laws have been breached.

The inquiry forms part of a broader effort by the regulator to strengthen consumer protections and improve price transparency across a range of sectors.

Ryanair is one of Europe’s largest airlines and carries millions of passengers each year, including a significant number travelling between the UK and destinations such as Portugal, Spain and other popular holiday markets.