The fines stemmed from practices that included misleading pricing, lack of transparency, and excessive charges for services such as seat reservations and baggage fees.

The airlines are now required to stop charging extra fees for reserving seats for dependents and for cabin luggage, and they must improve pricing transparency on their websites.

The International Air Transport Association condemned the fines, arguing they undermine consumer choice and the ability of low-cost airlines to maintain competitive pricing.

The airlines have a two-month window to appeal the decision in court, after which they must comply with the fines if no appeal is filed.

On November 22, 2024, Spain's Ministry of Social Rights and Consumption announced significant fines against several low-cost airlines following an investigation initiated in 2023.

The airlines fined include Ryanair, Vueling, easyJet, Norwegian, and Volotea, with penalties totaling over 177 million euros.

Consumer rights association Facua hailed these fines as historic, marking the highest ever imposed by a consumer protection authority in Spain, and allowing consumers to seek refunds for excessive fees.

The investigation revealed that airlines often failed to provide clear final costs during online bookings and prohibited cash payments for additional services at airports.

Ryanair faced additional scrutiny for charging high fees for printing boarding passes at terminals, which was criticized as misleading to customers.

In response to the fines, Spain's Association of Airlines plans to appeal, claiming the sanctions could harm passenger choice and impose unnecessary costs.

The European Consumer Organization praised the Spanish government's action as a victory for consumer rights, advocating for similar regulations across the EU.

Despite the airlines' appeals against the penalties being rejected, the Spanish government maintains that the fines were calculated to deter such practices and ensure fairness in the airline industry.