Spanish Authorities Fine Five Airlines $179 Million for Baggage Fees

The Spanish Ministry of Consumer Rights has fined the airlines 179 million euros for abusive practices, including the charging of cabin baggage. In a statement released on Friday, the ministry confirmed this fine announced in May, rejecting the appeals of the airlines. The low-cost carriers had violated customer rights by charging for larger hand luggage, choosing seats or printing boarding passes and not allowing cash payments at check-in counters or the purchase of items on board, recalls El Español.

In detail, Ryanair will pay the highest fine, 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 through 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.

According to the Spanish press, the airlines concerned have announced their intention to challenge the fines in court, considering these sanctions "illegal". For the Association of Airlines (ALA), this decision by the ministry is "nonsensical" 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 oversized hand luggage are not prohibited, the association adds, also noting that they call into question the low-cost business model.