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Five budget airlines, including Ryanair, easyJet , Volotea, Norwegian , and Vueling, have been fined a combined €179 million ($187 million) for “abusive” luggage charging practices. According to a statement by the Spanish Consumer Affairs Ministry, airlines violated customer rights when charging for more oversized carry-on luggage, picking seats or boarding pass printouts, and not allowing cash payments at check-in desks or to buy items onboard.
Ryanair was fined the most, €108m, while International Airlines Group’s low-cost arm, Vueling, was fined €39m, easyJet €29m, Norwegian €1.6m, and Volotea €1.2m. The Consumer Affairs Ministry first announced the fines in May 2024. Last week, Ministry’s Pablo Bustinduy rejected the airlines’ appeals against these sanctions, which include prohibiting these companies from continuing to carry out the sanctioned practices.
The Consumer Affairs Ministry added that Ryanair is also sanctioned for a practice whereby users are charged a disproportionate amount for printing their ticket at the terminal when they do not have it.
Appealing an “unlawful and baseless” decision
Ryanair has instructed its lawyers to “immediately” appeal Spain’s Consumer Affairs Ministry’s decision to fine a number of European budget airlines over “unlawful and baseless baggage fine.”
Commenting on the news, Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said in a statement obtained by Simple Flying:
“Ryanair has for many years used bag fees and airport check-in fees to change passenger behaviour and we pass on these cost savings in the form of lower fares to consumers. These illegal Spanish fines, which are based on an ancient 1960s law which predated Spain joining the EU, would destroy the ability of low cost airlines to pass on cost savings to consumers via lower fares.”
O’Leary also said that the success of European budget carriers in Spain and across Europe in recent years “is entirely due to Europe’s Open Skies regime and the freedom of airlines to set prices and policies without interference from national Governments.”
IATA condemns Spain’s decision to fine LCCs
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and its Director General Willie Walsh have reacted to last week’s decision by Spain to fine airlines, saying the Spanish government’s decision overrides European law. Walsh said:
“This is an appalling decision. Far from protecting the consumer interest, this is a slap in the face of travelers who want choice. Prohibiting all airlines from charging for cabin bags means that the cost will be automatically priced into all tickets. What’s next? Forcing all hotel guests to pay for breakfast? Or charging everyone to pay for the coat check when they buy a concert ticket?”
