Justice allows airlines what Spain wants to fine. And who is winning is Ryanair

The Superior Court of Justice of Madrid He has precautionary suspended sanctions of 179 million euros that consumption imposed to five airlines receivable the hand luggage. Companies will continue to invoice these services as an extra, at least until there is a final sentence.

Why is it important. This judicial decision comes in full clash between Spanish and European regulations.

• Spain considers these practices illegal and sanctions them.
• The European Union Council expressly supports them.

However, the latter has not yet been translated into current law, for the moment The European Parliament wants to restore its gratuity And then the inter -institutional negotiation will arrive.

In figures. Ryanair and Norwegian have achieved precautionary measures contributing 110 and 1.8 million bank guarantees respectively. The magistrates argue that the fines are “very high” and their anticipated payment would cause “difficulties to the Treasury” of the airlines. This does not mean in any case that the court considers the fine illegitimate, only there are reasons to suspend it while judging.

Ryanair heads the sanctions with 107 million, followed by Vueling (39.3), Easyjet (29,1), Norwegian (1.6) and Volotea (1,2). The total fine amounts to 179 million euros.

The context. The EU Council reforms in June the European regulations for expressly allow collection by cabin suitcaseslimiting free luggage to packages of 40x30x15 centimeters. This reform, of course, must still be ratified by the European Parliament.

But the European Parliament Transportation Commission this week approved a opposite proposal: That each passenger can wear a small bag and suitcase without additional cost.

Between the lines. The European Commission has already opened a procedure against Spain for possible irregularities in these sanctions. Meanwhile, airlines press to maintain their freedom of rates.

It is a clash between two ways of understanding the business of flying:

• Ryanair disaggregates everything that can be reduced to the basic ticket and fill the airplanes, something that explains its good profitability.
• Legislators want a basic ticket to include certain services that cannot be disaggregated.

The only thing that all parts seem to coincide is to allow a small bag or backpack for free (40x30x15 cm). It is the minimum difference between plane traveling and traveling by subway.

And now what. The proposal of the Parliament must go through the plenary in July and negotiate with the Member States. Until then, the airlines will maintain their current policies, which are also now backed by the Spanish judicial decision.

Minister Pablo Bustinduy is confident that the position of the European Parliament prevails. The airlines, meanwhile, have won judicial legitimacy to continue charging hand luggage as extra.

Outstanding image |

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