The battle of the airline companies to charge for hand luggage to travelers is experiencing a new and controversial chapter. The CEO of the Irish low-cost airline Ryanair, Michael O'Leary, has responded with insults and mockery to the sanction of 107 million euros imposed by the Ministry of Consumption for "abusive practices" for, among other infractions, charging for hand luggage, having to pay for "contiguous seats to accompany dependent people" or charging "a disproportionate amount" for printing the ticket at the terminal if it is not available.
As a result of these sanctions, which the airline describes as "illegal" and which the ministry defends that it "has applied with all rigor", the president of the Irish low-cost company has presented a summer campaign where he has dressed the Spanish Minister of Consumption, Pablo Bustinduy, as a clown.
"Book crazy prices before a clown raises prices" or "before some clown regulates to higher prices", are some of the messages of the campaign presented this past February 11. In this way, O'Leary warns that he will raise ticket prices to face these fines."
"My obligation is to defend these rights and that is what I have done and will continue to do, and no pressure or insult campaign will stop me from applying the rule," Bustinduy stressed this Tuesday after learning of the Ryanair announcement.
Along with Ryanair, which faces the largest fine, other four low-cost companies such as Vueling (with 39.2 million), EasyJet (29 million), Norwegian (1.6 million) and Volotea (1.18) were also sanctioned.
Bustinduy confirmed at the end of 2024 the sanctions proposed by the General Secretariat of Consumption and Gambling and dismissed the appeals filed by the companies. The investigation, which had begun in 2023, described the infractions as "very serious". The Ministry of Consumption reported that the amounts of the sanctions were calculated based on "the profits obtained by the airlines for the infringing practices". In addition, for "very serious" practices, the sanctions could "reach up to between six and eight times" the illicit profit. These sanctions can be appealed before the Contentious-Administrative Chamber of the National Court.
In addition, Consumption has prohibited all sanctioned companies from continuing to demand payment of a supplement for hand luggage in the cabin, demanding payment of a surcharge to reserve adjoining seats with minors, dependent persons and companions. In addition, they will not be able to prevent payment in cash, nor impose "a disproportionate and abusive fee" for printing the boarding pass and prohibits "omitting information and lack of clarity in the prices published on their own website.
