Air travel has long been associated with hidden fees and unclear pricing, especially among low-cost carriers.
In a move to protect consumers, Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs has taken a significant step to penalize airlines engaging in abusive practices.
The decision has brought renewed attention to the treatment of passengers and the often-opaque policies of budget airlines.
The Ministry imposed fines totaling €179 million on five low-cost airlines: Ryanair, Vueling, EasyJet, Norwegian, and Volotea, according to El Economista.
These fines address practices such as charging extra for carry-on luggage, forcing families or dependents to pay for adjacent seats, and refusing cash payments at Spanish airports.
Ryanair received the largest fine, €107.8 million, followed by Vueling with €39.3 million and EasyJet with €29.1 million. Norwegian and Volotea were fined €1.6 million and €1.2 million, respectively.
Officials described the fines as a response to very serious violations.
This is the first time such penalties have been finalized under the ministry’s expanded authority, which began in June 2022. The order also bans the airlines from continuing the practices that led to the sanctions.
The infractions include additional charges for hand luggage, which should be included in the ticket price, and fees for printing boarding passes.
Authorities noted that Ryanair's charge for this service was disproportionately high.
Airlines were also criticized for a lack of transparency in pricing, both on their websites and third-party platforms, making it difficult for passengers to compare options.
The Ministry calculated the fines based on the illicit profits gained through these practices.
For very serious violations, penalties can amount to six to eight times the unlawful revenue if it exceeds standard fine limits.
Minister Pablo Bustinduy signed the order confirming the sanctions and shared the news on social media. Appeals from the airlines were dismissed, but they have two months to file further legal challenges.
If no appeals are made within this timeframe, the penalties will take effect.
