The European Commission has launched infringement proceedings against Spain over its prohibition on airlines charging additional fees for carry-on luggage, a practice Brussels claims contradicts EU regulations. This move comes after Spain sanctioned five airlines for implementing such charges.
According to Brussels officials, EU legislation "guarantees airlines' freedom to set their prices" and cites a European Court of Justice ruling which establishes that hand luggage should "in principle be free of charge, provided it meets reasonable requirements regarding weight and dimensions and complies with applicable safety regulations."
The Commission emphasises that "hand luggage exceeding these reasonable requirements falls under airlines' pricing freedom," a principle that Spain currently doesn't observe. The EU executive body points out that Spain's stance, including its decision to penalise five airlines for implementing additional charges, appears to breach community regulations.
This legal challenge highlights the ongoing tension between national consumer protection measures and EU-wide aviation regulations, potentially affecting millions of passengers travelling through Spanish airports. The case could set a precedent for how carry-on baggage fees are regulated across the European Union.
Pablo Bustinduy, Spanish Consumer Rights Minister, accused the Commission of siding with airlines against consumers. "It is regrettable that the European Commission has decided to openly position itself as the defence attorney for this handful of large multinationals that are profiting at the expense of consumer rights," he told reporters.
"We will go to the EU tribunal and we will defend with all rigor our position." Ryanair's Chief Executive Michael O'Leary told reporters in Madrid that the Commission had in fact sided with consumers, who benefit from broader price options. A Spanish court in June ordered a temporary halt to the fines while it got to the bottom of the issue. The court injunction allowed airlines to maintain their pricing policy until a final decision was reached.