The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has imposed a fine of 179 million euros to several low-cost airlines, including Ryanair, Vueling and EasyJet, for charging for hand luggage among other practices that, according to the department headed by Pablo Bustinduy, are what allow these airlines to have very competitive prices.
The sanction comes after Consumo opened a file against these airlines in August 2023, in addition to charging for hand luggage, for charging parents traveling with their children or dependents for seat selection and even charging for printing your boarding pass.
The Association of Airlines (ALA) has been slow to react, calling the Ministry’s decision regarding hand luggage a «nonsense that places Spain as the only country in the EU where they want to prohibit charging practices for baggage in the cabinwhich, in addition to being an illegal interference and attacking market freedom, represents a comparative offense with respect to the countries around us where this practice is not prohibited,” the statement reads.
What’s more, ALA has assured that the practice of charging ‘extra’ is legal because it is supported by EU Regulation 1008/2008 and has announced that The affected airlines will appeal the decision of the Minister of Consumer Affairs to the Administrative Litigation jurisdiction. which they consider “manifestly illegal, inexplicable and which could seriously and irreversibly harm many passengers.”
In addition, the employers’ association has also advanced that they will not change the cabin baggage policy carried out until now because it is not “viable or reasonable to propose changes in commercial policies until the Courts rule on this Consumer decision,” reads the article. the statement.
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