Aviation-related activity - "Significant" million-euro penalty for budget airlines in Spain
The Spanish government has penalized four so-called budget carriers a combined total of approximately 150 million euros for extra expenses related to hand luggage and other controversial practices, as per reports. The companies in question are Ryanair, EasyJet, Vueling, and Volotea, according to state broadcaster RTVE and other media outlets, who cited the responsible ministry in Madrid for social rights and consumer protection. The left-leaning administration has verified the facts but hasn't provided additional details.
Media and Spanish consumer protection association Facua, whose grievance led to the ministry starting fining processes last summer, called the punishment "groundbreaking". "For this reason, we work tirelessly to eradicate fraud and illegal practices," said Facua General Secretary Rubén Sánchez in an interview. "We're glad with the amount of the fine as well," he stressed.
The legal and economic director at the European Consumer Association (BEUC), Agustín Reyna, applauded the move as a "powerful and welcome signal" from the Spanish authorities. "The unfair policy of airlines with regards to hand baggage needs to be stopped," he said, before calling for EU-wide parameters on hand luggage rules to create consistency and stress relief for air travelers.
ALA, Spain's association representing more than 60 airlines working in the EU, voiced opposition to the decision, effectively treating it as a prohibition on chargeable hand luggage fees. "It harms consumers, particularly the 50 million fliers who don't bring their hand luggage into the cabin," the statement read. "The choice to pay only for what's necessary is being taken away from passengers."
The investigations stemmed from various questionable practices. When low-cost airlines began tightening their hand luggage policies, the ministry considered it a breach of the law due to included services in ticket prices now being billed separately. In addition, airlines were using the prices prior to additional costs in their advertisements, which allowed them to appear more attractive in search engines, the ministry claimed in the summer of the previous year.
The inquiries likewise targeted other practices deemed to violate the law. Among them are surcharges for seat reservations, especially for companions of minors or disabled individuals. The ministry's action has drawn criticism, and an appeal can be lodged, while ALA is also pondering legal measures, RTVE reported after talking to the airline association.
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- The penalty for EasyJet, Ryanair, Vueling, and Volotea, operating in Seville and other Spanish cities, totals approximately 150 million euros.
- Consumers are faces with additional costs due to controversial hand luggage policies and practices implemented by budget airlines like EasyJet and Volotea.
- The fine will discourage Ryanair and others from implementing take-away baggage policies, as seen in some larger European airports.
- The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has taken a firm stance against unfair hand luggage fees, imposing a significant million-euro penalty.
- Madrid-based Vueling and its peers in the aviation industry will now need to revise their hand luggage policies, following the EU's guidelines for fairer travel expenses.
- EasyJet flights from Seville to various European destinations could become more affordable as a result of the million-euro fine imposed on budget airlines like Volotea.
- Air traffic between major Spanish cities like Madrid and Seville is expected to be impacted, as consumers may reconsider traveling with certain airlines due to the hefty fines.
- Despite criticism from ALA and potential legal action, tens of millions of passengers traveling with EasyJet, Volotea, or Vueling in Spain will benefit from the government's initiative to combat excessive hand luggage fees.
