Italy probes Ryanair for potential abuse of dominant position, paper says

Italy's antitrust regulator has opened a probe into Ryanair RYAI over a possible abuse of dominant position that caused "serious and irreparable" damages to travel agencies, other airlines and passengers, daily Il Messaggero reported on Monday.

The authority claimed Ryanair - the market leader in Italy - did not allow physical and online tour operators to access its offers and discounts on its website on several occasions, the newspaper said, reporting in advance a decision by the regulator that is expected to be published later on Monday.

A spokesperson for Ryanair in Italy was not immediately available.

Ryanair, Europe's largest airline by passenger numbers, will have eight days to reply, with the airline's representatives likely to meet the regulator's members on April 18, Il Messaggero reported.

Should Ryanair's arguments not convince the watchdog, it will have to remove all obstacles posed to agencies, the newspaper added.

The carrier is looking to build on its market-leading position in Italy if more airport slots become available as a result of a potential tie-up between ITA Airways and Lufthansa LHA, with a particular interest in Rome's Fiumicino hub, it, said earlier this year.