The Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and Agenda 2030 has imposed fines totaling 179 million euros on five low-cost airlines for practices deemed abusive, such as charging for hand luggage or requiring additional fees for booking adjacent seats for minors or dependent individuals. The affected companies are Ryanair, Vueling, EasyJet, Norwegian, and Volotea.
Minister Pablo Bustinduy signed the order confirming the sanctions proposed by the General Secretariat of Consumer Affairs and Gambling, rejecting the appeals filed by the airlines. This decision concludes an investigation launched in 2023 and classifies the violations as «very serious» under the General Law for the Protection of Consumers and Users (TRLGDCU).
Details of the sanctions on low-cost airlines
The fines imposed on each airline are distributed as follows:
- Ryanair: 107.7 million euros
- Vueling: 39.2 million euros
- EasyJet: 29 million euros
- Norwegian: 1.6 million euros
- Volotea: 1.1 million euros
In addition to the financial penalties, the ministry has explicitly prohibited the continuation of the sanctioned practices, which include:
- Charging additional fees for hand luggage.
- Requiring extra costs for adjacent seats in cases involving minors or dependent individuals.
- Refusing to accept cash payments in Spanish airports.
- Imposing disproportionate fees for printing boarding passes.
- Lack of transparency in published prices, hindering comparability for consumers.
In Ryanair’s case, an additional penalty was imposed for applying excessive charges to users requesting boarding pass printing at the airport.
Basis and next legal steps
The fines were calculated based on the illicit profits obtained by the airlines through these practices, as stipulated by the Consumer Affairs sanctioning regime. The penalties could range between six and eight times the profit gained if it exceeds the established thresholds.
This decision concludes the administrative process, but the airlines have the option to file an administrative appeal before the National Court within two months. If no appeals are filed, the order will become enforceable.
It is the first time that the General State Administration has classified sanctions of this type as «very serious.» According to the ministry, these measures aim to ensure the proportionality of the fines and deter companies from repeating these practices.
The aviation sector, particularly the low-cost segment, could face increased operational and legal challenges as a result of this decision, which may have significant implications for their business model and relationship with consumers, who would generally be forced to pay higher fares.
“This is an alarming decision. Far from protecting the consumer, it harms travelers seeking options. Prohibiting all airlines from charging for hand luggage means that cost will be automatically included in ticket prices. What’s next? Forcing all hotel guests to pay for breakfast? Price freedom is protected by EU laws for a good reason. This measure is illegal and must be stopped” said Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA.
