(Finance) – Over 150 million euros in fines for practices considered illicit, such as making passengers pay for hand luggage. For this reason the Spanish government – according to what was anticipated by radio Cadena Ser and confirmed by sources from the Ministry of Social Rights and Consumption – has sanctioned four low-cost airlines. This is – the consumer association Facua said in a note – about Ryanair, Vueling, EasyJet and Volotea.
In addition to the surcharge for hand luggage, Madrid criticizes airlines for other practices: for example, that of charging a extra for seat selection for companions of people with special needs, such as small children, the “lack of transparency in contractual information” and the unavailability to accept cash payments for airline tickets at airports.
The sanctions imposed can be contested both at ministerial level and in judicial proceedings. The companies in question have, so far, continued to implement the practices judged as “abusive” by the authorities claiming to have never been the subject of definitive sanctioning resolutions. And he explains that the amounts of fines now imposed do not exceed 5% of their profits.
“Ryanair, Vueling, EasyJet and Volotea intend to appeal against this decision, both administratively and judicially” he announced Javier Gándara, president of the Airlines Association (Ala), in a press conference broadcast by the Iberian media.
While waiting for the sanctioning proceedings opened by the government to be definitively resolved, the airlines in question will be able to keep the contested fares in force. Gándara, for his part, said he is convinced that the companies involved will win the appeals, as he considers the fines imposed by the Ministry of Social Rights and Consumer Affairs “contrary to European legislation”. However, consumer associations have a different interpretation of various judicial rulings.