Ryanair, Europe’s No. 1 airline, today (14 May) announced the lucky winner of its 2026 annual ‘Win A Million’ scratch card draw, who walked away with a life changing cash prize of €500,000.

Longstanding Ryanair customer, Helen Swindells from Liverpool, joined the Ryanair team at Slane Castle, Co. Meath, Ireland on Wednesday (13 May) to play for a whopping sum of €1 million, having purchased a winning €2 Ryanair Scratch Card on a flight from Krakow to Liverpool in May 2025.

Ms. Swindells bought the Ryanair Scratch Card in support of UK charity, Naomi & Jacks – an independent charity that provides expert care for over 600 seriously ill babies, children and young adults. Naomi & Jacks is just one of the 13 amazing charities across Europe that benefit from Ryanair’s Scratch Card programme. Ms. Swindells had no idea at the time that purchasing this €2 Ryanair Scratch Card would lead to her winning an extraordinary €500,000, as part of Ryanair’s annual ‘Win A Million’ event.

Ryanair’s Scratch Card programme not only supports incredible charities across Europe, but also offers passengers the chance to win a range of prizes, including:

• €10,000 cash prizes
• A brand-new car
• Ryanair onboard spend credit
• Chance to qualify for the annual “Win A Million” grand prize draw

Speaking at Ryanair’s ‘Win A Million’ event, Helen Swindells said:

“I’m absolutely over the moon – never in a million years did I think boarding that Ryanair flight home to Liverpool from my holiday in Krakow that I would purchase a winning Ryanair Scratch Card. I only bought the scratch card because I wanted to support Naomi House & Jacksplace. It was only €2, so I thought ‘why not?’. Little did I know that I’d win and have the opportunity to got to Slane Castle with the Ryanair Team and participate in Ryanair’s annual ‘Win a Million’ event – an event that has changed my life forever. I knew there was a chance to win €1 million, but I just never thought I’d win anything close to that – let alone walking away with €500,000. It is completely life changing and I couldn’t be happier!”

Remarking on the phenomenal win, Ryanair’s Aoife Greene said:

“We are delighted for Helen on her incredible €500,000 Ryanair “Win a Million” win. Ryanair’s Scratch Card programme continues to make a real difference to our charity partners across Europe doing extraordinary work for children and families in need, while also giving our passengers the opportunity to win fantastic prizes.”

RYANAIR EMPLOYEES HELPED CREATE “SUPERPOWER KITS” FOR CHILDREN RECEIVING TREATMENT AT LA PAZ UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN MADRID

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (13 May) joined Fundación Pequeño Deseo’s national initiative to mark National Hospitalised Children’s Day, delivering “superpower kits” to children receiving treatment at La Paz University Hospital in Madrid.

The initiative forms part of the hospital humanisation work carried out by the Foundation nationwide and aims to raise awareness of the importance of supporting hospitalised children, helping to make their stay in hospital more bearable through emotional support.

As part of this initiative, Ryanair employees recently took part in a volunteering session at the company’s offices in Madrid, where they handmade the kits, which include costumes, capes, masks and a range of accessories, with the aim of bringing excitement and moments of joy to hospitalised children. These gifts also provide support to medical teams during challenging moments such as tests, treatments or prolonged hospital stays, when emotional encouragement for young patients is especially important.

Through this initiative, Ryanair and Fundación Pequeño Deseo, with which the airline has been collaborating for more than 13 years through its “Scratch Card” charity programme, have today delivered the kits with the help of some of the most recognisable superheroes. The action further strengthens a partnership that seeks to make a positive impact on children’s lives and help make their hospital stay more bearable.

Alejandra Ruiz, Ryanair’s spokesperson in Spain, said:

“Ryanair is proud to once again collaborate with Fundación Pequeño Deseo and to contribute, through this very special initiative, to bringing joy and hope to children going through difficult times. This initiative also reflects the commitment and solidarity of our employees, who have actively taken part in creating these ‘superpower kits’ with great dedication and care. We are delighted to be able to play a small part and to see the significant impact of the work carried out by Fundación Pequeño Deseo through initiatives such as this.”

Cristina Cuadrado, General Manager of Fundación Pequeño Deseo, added:

“Fundación Pequeño Deseo would like to thank Ryanair for its continued commitment over all these years. In a hospital, sick children do not only receive medical treatment; it is also essential to care for their emotional wellbeing, their excitement and their mental strength, as well as that of their families. The involvement of Ryanair employees in creating these kits shows that, through small gestures, we can support them during their hospital stay and make a very positive impact on their lives.”

LOS EMPLEADOS DE RYANAIR HAN PARTICIPADO EN LA ELABORACIÓN DE “KITS DE SUPERPODERES” ENTREGADOS A NIÑOS HOSPITALIZADOS EN EL HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO LA PAZ DE MADRID

Ryanair, la aerolínea nº1 de Europa, se ha sumado hoy (miércoles, 13 de mayo) a la acción nacional impulsada por la Fundación Pequeño Deseo con motivo del Día Nacional del Niño Hospitalizado, con la entrega de “kits de superpoderes” a niños ingresados en el Hospital Universitario La Paz de Madrid.

La iniciativa forma parte de la labor de humanización hospitalaria que la Fundación desarrolla a nivel nacional y busca sensibilizar sobre la importancia de acompañar a los niños hospitalizados, contribuyendo a hacer más llevadera su estancia en el hospital también desde el apoyo emocional.

En el marco de esta acción, empleados de Ryanair participaron recientemente en una jornada de voluntariado en las oficinas de la compañía en Madrid, donde elaboraron de forma manual estos kits, compuestos por disfraces, capas, máscaras y distintos accesorios, con el objetivo de llevar ilusión y momentos de alegría a los niños hospitalizados. Además, estos obsequios también sirven de apoyo a los equipos médicos en momentos complejos como pruebas, tratamientos o ingresos prolongados, donde el refuerzo anímico a los más pequeños resulta fundamental.

De esta manera, Ryanair y la Fundación Pequeño Deseo, con la que la aerolínea colabora desde hace más de 13 años a través de su programa solidario “Rasca y Gana”, han entregado hoy estos “kits” de la mano de algunos de los superhéroes más reconocidos, reforzando así una colaboración que busca generar un impacto positivo en la vida de los niños y contribuir a hacer más llevadera su estancia hospitalaria.

Alejandra Ruiz, portavoz de Ryanair, ha declarado:

“Para Ryanair, es un orgullo colaborar nuevamente con la Fundación Pequeño Deseo y poder contribuir, a través de esta acción tan especial, a llevar ilusión y esperanza a niños que atraviesan momentos delicados. Esta iniciativa refleja también el compromiso y la solidaridad de nuestros empleados, que han participado de forma activa en la creación de estos “kits de superpoderes” con gran dedicación y cariño. Nos hace muy felices poder poner nuestro granito de arena y ver el impacto tan grande que tiene el trabajo que realiza la Fundación Pequeño Deseo con iniciativas como esta”.

Por su parte, Cristina Cuadrado, Directora General de la Fundación Pequeño Deseo, ha señalado:

“Desde la Fundación Pequeño Deseo queremos agradecer a Ryanair su compromiso continuado durante todos estos años. En un hospital no solo se trata médicamente a los niños enfermos; también es fundamental cuidar su parte emocional, su ilusión y su fortaleza mental, así como la de sus familias. La implicación de los empleados de Ryanair en la creación de estos kits demuestra que, con pequeños gestos, podemos acompañarlos durante su estancia hospitalaria y generar un impacto muy positivo en sus vidas”.

“The statement issued by the Fraport Greece Monopoly on 8 May highlights just how off the mark the German owned monopoly airport operator is. Ryanair’s decision to close its three aircraft Thessaloniki base for Winter ’26 is entirely due to Fraport’s decision to hike its airport charges by an excessive +66% following the pandemic.

More recently, instead of passing on the Greek Govt’s sensible decision to reduce the Airport Development Fee by -75% to all airlines and passengers to stimulate year-round connectivity and tourism across Greece – the Fraport monopoly pocketed this tax reduction to further line the pockets of its German shareholder. The Fraport Greece monopoly has made Greece aviation hopelessly uncompetitive compared to other European countries such as Albania, regional Italy, Slovakia and Sweden, all of whom are actively lowering airport fees and abolishing taxes to support traffic, tourism and jobs growth.

Ryanair wants to grow in Greece – as it is in other more competitive countries across Europe – but can only do so if Fraport Greece freezes airport charges and passes the -75% Airport Development Fee reduction on to all airlines and passengers to stimulate capacity growth and investment, instead of lining the pockets of its German shareholder. Ryanair calls on the Greek Govt. to break up the Fraport Greece monopoly, which will bring much needed competition to the Greek aviation market.“

ORDENA LA DEVOLUCIÓN ÍNTEGRA DE LA MULTA DE 4,2 MILLONES DE EUROS, MÁS INTERESES, A RYANAIR

Ryanair, la aerolínea nº1 de Europa, ha instado hoy (miércoles 13 de mayo) a la primera ministra italiana, Giorgia Meloni, a reformar urgentemente la Autoridad Italiana de la Competencia (AGCM) para abordar la percepción de parcialidad tras la sentencia dictada hoy por el Consejo de Estado italiano, que ha puesto de manifiesto la conducta discriminatoria e ilegal de la AGCM hacia Ryanair.

El Consejo de Estado de Italia ha dictado hoy una sentencia firme y vinculante que anula la multa de 4,2 millones de euros impuesta por la AGCM a Ryanair en 2021 en relación con las cancelaciones de vuelos por la COVID-19. Es fundamental destacar que el Tribunal consideró que la AGCM había discriminado a Ryanair al rechazar los compromisos propuestos por la compañía sin entablar un diálogo, mientras que aceptaba compromisos similares de otras aerolíneas, entre ellas Alitalia, Vueling y Blue Panorama. El Consejo de Estado sostuvo que la conducta de la AGCM infringió principios fundamentales del derecho administrativo y de la competencia, afirmando que la discrecionalidad de la AGCM se había ejercido “de manera incompatible con los principios de coherencia, razonabilidad y no discriminación”.

Estas conclusiones perjudican gravemente la reputación de la AGCM y aportan un contexto contundente a la insólita multa de 256 millones de euros impuesta por la AGCM a Ryanair por su política de distribución directa, que ignoraba la sentencia precedente del Tribunal de Apelación de Milán de enero de 2024. En dicha sentencia, el Tribunal de Apelación de Milán confirmó que el modelo de distribución directa de Ryanair:

• “Beneficia sin duda a los consumidores”, ya que da lugar a tarifas más bajas
• Está “justificado desde el punto de vista económico en lo que respecta a la contención de los costes operativos y a la eliminación de los costes asociados a la intermediación en la venta de billetes”
• “Contribuye a… un canal directo de comunicación… para cualquier posible necesidad de información y actualizaciones sobre los vuelos”

La sentencia del Consejo de Estado que dictamina que la AGCM discriminó a Ryanair plantea serias dudas sobre si se puede confiar en que el personal de la AGCM actúe de forma objetiva, coherente y de acuerdo con la jurisprudencia, especialmente en lo que respecta a Ryanair.

Ryanair ha recurrido la resolución de la AGCM, legalmente defectuosa, por valor de 256 millones de euros y confía en que, al igual que en el caso anterior de cancelaciones por la COVID-19, los tribunales italianos volverán a defender el Estado de derecho y anularán otra multa de la AGCM infundada y defectuosa en un caso que afecta a Ryanair.

Michael O’Leary, de Ryanair, ha declarado:

“La sentencia vinculante dictada hoy por el Consejo de Estado plantea serias dudas sobre la imparcialidad de la AGCM y el trato que ha dispensado a Ryanair. El tribunal ha dictaminado que la AGCM discriminó a Ryanair al aplicar criterios distintos a los que aplicó a otras compañías aéreas en casos equivalentes, lo que supone una clara violación de los principios básicos de la justicia.

Estas conclusiones dañan profundamente la reputación de la AGCM y contextualizan claramente la insólita multa de 256 millones de euros impuesta por la AGCM en diciembre de 2025 (por nuestra política de distribución directa), que contradice la clara sentencia precedente del Tribunal de Apelación de Milán de enero de 2024, en la que se determinó que el modelo de distribución directa de Ryanair ‘beneficia sin duda a los consumidores’ y ofrece tarifas competitivas. Ryanair ha recurrido esta multa de la AGCM, que adolece de vicios de forma, y confía en que, una vez más, los tribunales italianos defenderán el Estado de derecho, respetarán los precedentes judiciales y anularán otra resolución ilegal de la AGCM. Hacemos un llamamiento a la primera ministra Giorgia Meloni para que reforme urgentemente la AGCM a fin de garantizar que actúe de manera justa y en el mejor interés de los consumidores, en lugar de atacar injustamente a Ryanair con acusaciones infundadas y multas ilegales”.

ORDINA IL RIMBORSO a ryanair DI UNA MULTA DI 4,2 MILIONI DI EURO PIÙ INTERESSI

Ryanair, la compagnia aerea numero 1 d’Europa, oggi (mercoledì 13 maggio) ha invitato il Presidente del Consiglio Giorgia Meloni a riformare urgentemente l’Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM) per fare fronte all’atteggiamento parziale emerso a seguito della sentenza di oggi del Consiglio di Stato italiano, che ha messo in luce condotte discriminatorie e illecite dell’AGCM nei confronti di Ryanair.

Il Consiglio di Stato italiano ha emesso oggi una sentenza definitiva e vincolante che annulla la multa di 4,2 milioni di euro irrogata dall’AGCM a Ryanair nel 2021, in relazione alle cancellazioni dei voli per il Covid. In particolare, la Corte ha rilevato che l’AGCM aveva discriminato Ryanair respingendone, senza interlocuzioni, gli impegni proposti, accettando invece impegni analoghi di altre compagnie aeree, tra cui Alitalia, Vueling e Blue Panorama. Il Consiglio di Stato ha stabilito che la condotta dell’AGCM ha violato i principi fondamentali del diritto amministrativo e della concorrenza, affermando che il potere discrezionale attribuito all’AGCM è stato esercitato “in modo non conforme ai principi di coerenza, ragionevolezza e non discriminazione”.

Questi accertamenti sono profondamente dannosi per la reputazione dell’AGCM e forniscono un contesto compromettente alla bizzarra sanzione di 256 milioni di euro imposta a Ryanair per la sua politica di distribuzione diretta, che ha ignorato la sentenza precedente della Corte d’Appello di Milano del gennaio 2024. In quella sentenza, la Corte d’Appello di Milano ha confermato che il modello di distribuzione diretta di Ryanair:

• “senza dubbio beneficia[no] i consumatori” portando a tariffe più basse
• è “economicamente giustificato in termini di contenimento dei costi operativi e di eliminazione dei costi legati all’intermediazione nella vendita dei biglietti”
• “ha contribuito a… un canale di comunicazione diretto… per ogni eventuale necessità di informazione e di aggiornamento sui voli”.

La sentenza del Consiglio di Stato secondo cui l’AGCM ha discriminato Ryanair solleva seri dubbi sul fatto che si possa fare affidamento sul personale AGCM per agire in modo obiettivo, coerente e conforme ai precedenti giudiziari, in particolare quando Ryanair è coinvolta.

Ryanair ha fatto ricorso contro la sanzione di 256 milioni di euro dell’AGCM ed è fiduciosa che, come nel caso sopra citato riguardante le cancellazioni Covid, i tribunali italiani confermeranno nuovamente lo stato di diritto, e annulleranno un’altra multa di AGCM infondata e viziata in un caso che coinvolge Ryanair.

Michael O’Leary di Ryanair ha dichiarato:

“La sentenza del Consiglio di Stato solleva seri dubbi sull’imparzialità dell’AGCM e sul suo trattamento di Ryanair. La Corte ha stabilito che l’AGCM ha discriminato Ryanair applicando standard diversi in casi equivalenti rispetto ad altre compagnie aeree, il che viola chiaramente i principi fondamentali della giustizia.

Questi risultati danneggiano profondamente la reputazione dell’AGCM e forniscono un chiaro contesto alla bizzarra sanzione di 256 milioni di euro del dicembre 2025 dell’AGCM (riguardante la nostra politica di distribuzione diretta), che contraddice la chiara sentenza della Corte d’Appello di Milano del gennaio 2024, nella quale il modello di distribuzione diretta di Ryanair è stato ritenuto ‘indubbiamente vantaggioso per i consumatori’ e per offrire tariffe competitive. Ryanair ha fatto ricorso contro questa sanzione viziata dell’AGCM ed è fiduciosa che, ancora una volta, i tribunali italiani confermeranno lo stato di diritto e i precedenti giudiziari, e annulleranno un’altra decisione illegittima dell’AGCM. Chiediamo al Presidente del Consiglio Giorgia Meloni di riformare urgentemente l’AGCM per garantire che agisca in modo equo e nell’interesse dei consumatori, invece di prendere ingiustamente di mira Ryanair con accuse infondate e multe illecite.”

ORDERS FULL REPAYMENT OF €4.2m FINE PLUS INTEREST TO RYANAIR

Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Wed 13 May) called on Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to urgently reform the Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) to address the perception of bias following today’s ruling by the Italian Council of State which exposed discriminatory and unlawful conduct by the AGCM towards Ryanair.

Italy’s Council of State, today issued a final and binding judgment annulling the €4.2m AGCM fine imposed on Ryanair in 2021 in relation to Covid flight cancellations. Crucially, the Court found that the AGCM had discriminated against Ryanair by rejecting its proposed commitments without dialogue, while accepting similar commitments from other airlines, including Alitalia, Vueling and Blue Panorama. The Council of State held that the AGCM’s conduct breached core principles of administrative and competition law, stating that the AGCM’s discretion had been exercised “in a manner inconsistent with the principles of coherence, reasonableness and non‑discrimination”.

These findings are deeply damaging to the AGCM’s reputation, and provide a damning context to the AGCM’s bizarre €256m fine imposed on Ryanair, for its direct distribution policy, which ignored the precedent ruling of the Milan Court of Appeal in Jan 2024. In that judgment, the Milan Court of Appeal confirmed that Ryanair’s direct distribution model:

• “undoubtedly benefit[s] consumers” by leading to lower fares
• is “economically justified in terms of containing operating costs, and eliminating the costs associated with intermediation in ticket sales”
• “contribute[s] to…a direct channel of communication…for any possible need for information and updates on flights”.

The Council of State’s ruling that the AGCM discriminated against Ryanair, raises serious questions about whether the AGCM staff can be trusted or relied upon to act objectively, consistently and in accordance with judicial precedent, particularly where Ryanair is concerned.

Ryanair has appealed the legally flawed €256m AGCM ruling and is confident that, as in the above Covid cancellation case, the Italian courts will again uphold the rule of law, and overturn another unsound and flawed AGCM fine in a case involving Ryanair.

Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said:

“Today’s binding ruling by the Council of State raises serious questions about the AGCM’s impartiality and its treatment of Ryanair. The Court ruled that the AGCM discriminated against Ryanair by applying different standards than it did to other airlines in equivalent cases, which is in clear breach of the basic principles of justice.

These findings are deeply damaging to the AGCM’s reputation, and give clear context to the AGCM’s bizarre Dec 2025 €256m fine (for our direct distribution policy), which contradicts the clear precedent ruling of the Milan Court of Appeal in January 2024, where Ryanair’s direct distribution model was found to ‘undoubtedly benefit consumers’ and deliver competitive fares. Ryanair has appealed this legally flawed AGCM fine and is confident that, once again, the Italian courts will uphold the rule of law, respect judicial precedent, and overturn another unlawful AGCM ruling. We call on Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to urgently reform the AGCM to ensure it acts fairly and in the best interest of consumers, rather than unfairly targeting Ryanair with baseless claims and unlawful fines.”