The Ministry of Consumer Affairs in Spain, led by Pablo Bustinduy, imposed a historic fine of 179 million euros on five low-cost airlines: Ryanair, Vueling, Easyjet, Norwegian, and Volotea.
These companies have been penalized for practices deemed abusive, notably charging extra fees for carry-on luggage and for reserving adjacent seats to accompany minors or dependent individuals.
The highest fine is imposed on Ryanair, amounting to a total of 107,775,777 euros, followed by Vueling (39,264,412 euros), Easyjet (29,094,441 euros), Norwegian (1,610,001 euros), and Volotea (1,189,000 euros).
According to sources from the Ministry, these figures have been calculated based on the illicit gains obtained from these practices, in order to ensure proportionality and the deterrent effect of the measure.
Airlines have been sanctioned for various behaviors deemed harmful to consumers, including:
- Charge for carrying hand luggage in the cabin.
- Additional charges for reserving adjacent seats designated for minors or dependents.
- Imposition of excessive fees for the printing of boarding passes at airport terminals.
- Omission of clear information in the published prices, making it difficult to compare offers.
- Ban on cash payments at Spanish airports.
In the case of Ryanair, there have also been reports of excessive charges for printing tickets at the terminals when passengers did not have a physical copy.
This is the first time that the Ministry of Consumption, which has had sanctioning powers since June 2022, has issued sanctions of a "very serious" nature in the field of consumption. In addition to the financial penalties, the continuation of these practices has been explicitly prohibited.
Although airlines have expressed their opposition to the measure, calling it "disproportionate," the Ministry has defended its decision as an effort to protect consumer rights.
Pablo Bustinduy stated that "no company, no matter how large, is above the law." He also emphasized that the Ministry will continue to impose sanctions when users' rights are violated.
The president of the Airlines Association (ALA), Javier Gándara, announced that the airlines will appeal the sanctions and request precautionary measures. Gándara emphasized that these measures are detrimental to the Spanish aviation and tourism sectors.
The sanctioned companies have a period of two months to file appeals with the Administrative Litigation Chamber of the National Court. If they do not do so, the sanctions will become final.
The case sets a precedent for the enforcement of consumer sanctions in Spain and reinforces the message that consumer rights are a priority for the Government. A response from the airlines is expected, and it remains to be seen whether the measures will deter misconduct in the future.
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