Budget airline Ryanair has announced a major policy change, allowing parents to sit next to their young children free of charge following an investigation by the UK’s competition watchdog.

The airline had previously required adults travelling with children aged between two and 11 to pay a mandatory family seating fee to guarantee seats together. Regulators questioned whether the practice breached consumer protection laws and aviation safety rules.

Under the new policy, families who choose not to pay for reserved seating will be allocated seats together free of charge after check-in, although these seats will generally be located toward the rear of the aircraft. Passengers can still pay for preferred seats if they wish.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary described the move as a “reluctant” change, saying the airline was aligning with industry standards despite disagreeing with regulators.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority welcomed the policy change but confirmed its investigation will continue, including whether families were unfairly charged under the previous system.