The Junta de Andalucía has placed a fine on the low-cost airline, Ryanair, for applying a surcharge on hand baggage
This was in response to complaints from the consumer protection organisation, FACUA, who pointed out that this extra charge levied on carry-on luggage was abusive. FACUA, in turn, had received complaints from five airline passengers from Sevilla.
This announcement over the decision to fine Ryanair comes days after an investigation into Vueling for doing exactly the same.
According to FACUA this type of abuse contravenes the Ley de Navegación Aérea, where it stipulates, “The transporter [entity] is obligated to transport free of charge hand luggage in the cabin, as well as objects and packages that the traveller is carrying.” and only admits exceptions to this for reasons of safety owing to size or weight in relation to the size of the aircraft.
The Ministerio de Consumo, el Servicio de Consumo de Sevilla has not fixed the sum of the fine on the illicit benefit obtained but established a fine of 46,250 euros for being a “serious infringement.” FACUA Sevilla, however, has requested that the infringement is “very serious” and should be placed at between 60,001 euros and one-million euros.
The said ministry points out that Ryanair is not a local entity, but rather one that operates nationally and internationally between 37 countries with over 3,600 flights a day. It also recognises that the quantity of the fine should be “dissuasive” so that it is not a cheaper option for the company to pay the fine and continue to infringe the law.
Complaints from FACUA have resulted to date in several airlines receiving fines: Ryanair 107-million, Vueling 39.2-million, Easyjet 29.1-million, Norwegian 1.6-million and Volotea 1.2million for the same infringement.
(News: Sevilla, Andalucia)
Keywords: Ryanair, Norwegian, Vueling, Easyjet, Volotea, Fined, Legal Infringement, Hand Luggage, Abusive Charges
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