The Spanish Ministry of Consumer Rights has fined airlines 179 million euros for abusive practices, including charging for cabin baggage. In a press release published Friday, the ministry confirmed this fine announced in May, rejecting the airlines’ appeals. The low-cost airlines had violated customers’ rights by charging for larger carry-on bags, choosing seats or printing boarding passes and not allowing cash payments at check-in counters or the purchase of tickets. ‘items on board, recall The Spanish.
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In detail, Ryanair will pay the heaviest fine, i.e. 108 million euros. The rest is distributed as follows: Vueling, 39.3 million euros, easyJet, 29 million euros, Norwegian, 1.6 million euros and Volotea, 1.2 million euros. The fines were calculated based on the “illicit profit” made by the airlines thanks to these abusive practices. According to Spanish regulations, fines can reach six to eight times the illicit profit if it exceeds the legal limit of between 100,001 and 1 million euros.
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According to the Spanish press, the airlines concerned have announced their intention to challenge the fines in court, deeming these sanctions “illegal”. For the Airlines Association (ALA), this decision by the ministry is “nonsense” and violates the rules of free competition as well as those of the European Union. These fines create a competitive disadvantage compared to other countries where charges for bulky hand luggage are not prohibited, adds the association, also emphasizing that they call into question the low-cost economic model.
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