Ryanair sued by Belgian consumer protection agency for 'misleading and unfair' practices

Budget commercial airline Ryanair has appeared before the Brussels Commercial Court this week to defend its operations as "neither misleading nor unfair".

Belgian consumer protection agency Test-Achats has criticised the airline, which is known for advertising cheap fares but then charging customers for extra services that come standard with other airlines.

Test-Achats is demanding significant changes to Ryanair’s operations and brought its case before the Belgian courts.

The agency is requesting an end - or modification - of commercial practices which they say mislead consumers booking airline tickets on the airline's Belgian website. Among other things, they pointed to the practice of dynamic pricing and combined offers.

Ryanair’s lawyers argued that the airline’s commercial practices were not misleading and that the suggested eight-day timeline for implementing changes is "totally unreasonable" and "impossible".

Ryanair’s Alexandre Cassart claimed the measures requested by Test-Achats would require significant operational changes to the baggage handling process, as well as changes to the Belgian version of Ryanair’s website, a briefing for call centre employees and a new safety audit.

The lawyers for the airline said implementing these measures would also reduce consumer choice. The judge will rule on the case by the end of January.