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By Brian Dillon
Home & Travel Reporter
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Budget airlines have been fined by the Spanish government over luggage fees charged to customers.
The country's Minister of Human Rights and Consumer Affairs, Pablo Bustinduy, has signed sanctions against Ryanair, Vueling, Easyjet, Norwegian and Volotea for "abusive practices" when it comes to hand luggage. Bustinduy has fined the five airlines a total of €178 million ($186 million) collectively.
The largest went to Ryanair, with a €107 million (€111 million) fine being issued to the Irish airline. Spain's own Vueling has been fined €39 million ($41 million).
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British airline Easyjet has been fined €29 million ($30 million), Norwegian has been issued with one of €1,610,000 ($1,675,206), and Volotea has been fined €1,189,000 ($1,237,155).
The "abusive practices" outlined by the Spanish minister include charging additional fees to customers carrying hand luggage.
The investigation was initiated by the Directorate General for Consumer Affairs in 2023 and marks the first time that sanctions classified as very serious by the General State Administration in the field of consumer affairs have been finalized.
In addition to the fines, the sanctions also prohibit these airlines from requiring "the payment of a supplement for the carriage of hand luggage in the cabin."
Additionally, these airlines can no longer ask customers for "the payment of an extra cost over the price of the ticket for the reservation of adjacent seats in the case of minors and dependents and their companions."
These airlines can also no longer refuse to accept cash payments from customers in Spanish airports; impose "a disproportionate and abusive fee on passengers for printing the boarding pass"; or mislead customers with "omissions of information and lack of clarity in the prices published both on its own website and those of third parties," making it difficult for consumers to compare price offers and make decisions by them.
Ryanair alone was fined for charging customers a "disproportionate amount" for printing their boarding passes at terminals when they did not have them.
The fines were initially announced in May, and the airlines' appeals have since been dismissed.
Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said in a statement that the fines were "illegal and baseless."
"The success of Ryanair and other low-fare airlines 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, which is what today's illegal Spanish fines are," the statement reads.
The Spanish Airlines Association (ALA) called the fines "disproportionate."
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