Skip to content
travel — Lifestyle

Budget airline companies push for baggage fee abolition.

European consumer groups unite with Spain in their judicial struggle against low-cost carriers

,   and  Administrator
3 min read
European Consumer Groups Ally with Spain in Court Battle Against Low-Cost Airlines
European Consumer Groups Ally with Spain in Court Battle Against Low-Cost Airlines

Budget airline companies push for baggage fee abolition.

Low-cost airlines often charge extra for carrying larger carry-on baggage, like a small suitcase with wheels, within the cabin. These additional fees can hike up travel costs, especially for budget travelers.

Spain is taking a stand against this, as reported by Politico. The country has slapped hefty fines on budget airlines that charge for hand luggage, with a total fine of 179 million euros levied on five airlines in November 2024. Consumer organizations from 12 European countries have joined Spain's legal battle against budget airlines, raising the stakes.

Ryanair's CEO, Michael O'Leary, wasn't too happy about it. He called Spanish minister Pablo Bustinduy a "mad Spanish communist minister" and displayed a cardboard cutout of him as a clown with the caption "I'm raising prices." O'Leary argued that if hand luggage charges are banned, airlines will have to increase ticket prices.

Minister Pablo Bustinduy retorted, "If your business model is based on illegal practices, then the problem is with your business model." He noted that airlines faced no extra costs when carrying hand luggage and had not charged for it until 2021-2022, yet still managed to remain profitable.

Ryanair made 4.7 billion euros from additional services, including fees for hand luggage, seat selection, priority boarding, and so on, amounting to almost a third of the company's total revenue.

The debate now centers around what constitutes a "reasonable size" for hand luggage. Defending his position, Bustinduy references a 2014 decision by the European Court of Justice that no additional charge can be levied for carrying hand luggage that meets reasonable weight and dimension requirements and complies with safety regulations.

Consumer groups argue that the Spanish fines demonstrate their stance. In late May 2025, consumer organizations from 12 EU countries, including France, Italy, Belgium, Germany, coordinated by the European Consumer Organization, filed a complaint with the European Commission. They demand a joint investigation into Ryanair, EasyJet, Wizz Air, Transavia, Volotea, Vueling, and Norwegian Airlines.

The complaint coincides with discussions in the EU regarding the reform of air passenger rights. Some countries are pushing for exceptions for low-cost airlines, causing concern among consumer organizations.

Minister Bustinduy advised, "It's clear that airlines are now actively lobbying to change EU legislation and legalize, for example, these checked baggage fees. This is unacceptable - the EU should not abandon its mission to protect consumer rights."

Ryanair will appeal the Spanish fines, but this case could set a new precedent for the entire EU.

Enrichment Data:

  • The current legal landscape involving budget airlines in Europe, particularly around hand luggage charges, is complex and evolving.
  • A Spanish court in Salamanca ruled that Ryanair must refund a passenger for hand luggage charges on five flights between 2019 and 2024, deeming such fees unlawful as hand luggage is an essential part of air travel.[1][2]
  • A coalition of European consumer advocacy groups has filed a complaint against several budget airlines, including Wizz Air, for charging hand luggage fees, arguing that these fees violate EU consumer protection laws.[3]
  • The complaint draws on a 2014 European Court of Justice ruling that stated hand luggage should not be subject to additional fees if it meets reasonable size and safety standards.[3]
  • The European Commission may face pressure to address these practices more broadly across the EU due to the legal battle against budget airlines in Spain and consumer advocacy efforts.

[1] - https://www.bewelcome.org/news/55199[2] - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/27/spain-fines-five-low-cost-airlines-179m-euros-for-charging-for-hand-luggage[3] - https://www.consumerrights.org/policy/air-travel/hand-luggage-charges/

The developing situation in Europe reveals a heated debate over hand luggage fees imposed by budget airlines, with Spain leading the charge against these practices. Spanish authorities have slammed heavy fines on airlines like Ryanair for such charges, totaling 179 million euros in November 2024.

Consumer organizations across 12 European countries, including France, Italy, and Germany, are united in their legal battle against budget airlines, demanding a joint investigation into companies like Ryanair, EasyJet, and Wizz Air. This united front echoes their stance that hand luggage fees violate EU consumer protection laws.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest