Ryanair is cites a 2014 CJEU ruling in its appeal against a €179m fine in November 2024 from Spain, with its share being €109m for overcharging carry-on luggage fees.
The airline cites the 2014 CJEU ruling favouring Vueling Airlines, which permits airlines to set fees for checked luggage but not for carry-on luggage.
Ryanair says European Union treaties guarantee airlines the freedom to undertake commercial operations without government interference.
European Commission’s preliminary investigation follows complaints from several aviation associations regarding the fine and Spain’s limits on carry-on fees.
In January, Ryanair said it would scrap 800,000 seats on seven of its regional Spanish routes by the 2025 northern summer due to excessive fees by the state-owned airport operator.
CEO Michael O’Leary criticized Spain’s government minister, Pablo Bustinduy, CEO Michael O’Leary called the relevant government minister, Pablo Bustinduy, and called him a crazy communist minister at a press conference in Brussels. “He thinks that passengers can take as much luggage as they want. No, they can’t.”
Pablo Bustinduy shared “My duty is to defend the rights of consumers in this country.”That takes priority over the interests of any multinational orbnaire tycoon, no matter how powerful they may be.”
The judge said in the Vueling case that carry-on luggage was “a necessary aspect of the carriage of passengers and that its carriage cannot, therefore, be made subject to a price supplement.”
