The Czech Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) has rejected Ryanair’s complaint regarding increased fees at Václav Havel Airport Prague. The budget airline’s appeal against what they deemed excessive fee increases has hit a regulatory wall, though the decision isn’t yet final.
At the heart of the dispute lies a new pricing structure set to take effect from March 30, 2025, through March 28, 2026. Ryanair’s grievances centered on several key issues, including what they claimed was an underestimation of expected passenger numbers affecting cost calculations, new nitrogen oxide emission charges, and changes to check-in counter fees.
The competition watchdog, however, maintained that its role is strictly limited to ensuring non-discrimination among airport users, rather than evaluating specific pricing mechanisms. The airport’s argument that increased check-in counter fees and self-service baggage drop discounts would improve overall operational efficiency was deemed economically sound by the authority.
In a decisive statement, ÚOHS clarified that a carrier’s technical limitations in utilizing certain services don’t constitute discrimination. Ryanair has since escalated the matter, filing an appeal with the office’s chairman, Petr Mlsna.