The Spanish government announced this Friday a historic sanction of 179 million euros against five low-cost airlines, accused of abusive commercial practices. The carriers concerned — Ryanair, Vueling, EasyJet, Volotea and Norwegian — are mainly targeted for their pricing policies related to hand luggage.
Sanctions for excessive invoicing of hand baggage
The Irish company Ryanair received the heaviest fine, amounting to 107.7 million euros. It is followed by Vueling (39.3 million euros), EasyJet (29.1 million euros), Norwegian (1.6 million euros) and Volotea (1.2 million euros), according to the press release from the Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs.
These sanctions follow a complaint filed by the consumer association Facua, which denounced fees deemed abusive imposed by these companies. On May 31, the association initially mentioned a fine estimated at 150 million euros against four carriers. However, after examining the appeals filed by the companies concerned, the ministry revised and increased the total amount of sanctions to 179 million euros.
Several controversial practices have been singled out, notably the systematic charging of hand luggage, a policy widely criticized by consumers. The ministry also denounced the application of additional fees for the choice of seats when passengers travel with dependent people, such as children or individuals with disabilities.
In addition, the companies are accused of prohibiting cash payment for the purchase of tickets and of imposing fees considered excessive for the printing of boarding passes at airports.
A decision welcomed by consumer defenders
The Facua association hailed the decision as “historic”, stressing that these are the most significant sanctions ever imposed by a consumer protection authority in Spain. “The users concerned can now claim reimbursement for the abusive fees they paid,” the association said in a press release.
The ministry also ordered the immediate cessation of the sanctioned practices, under penalty of further fines. However, the companies have two months to challenge this decision in court.
With this measure, the Spanish government sends a clear message to companies in the airline sector, reaffirming its commitment to protecting consumer rights in the face of commercial practices deemed unfair and disproportionate.
