As reported by the Polish portal Gazeta.pl, a Spanish court in Salamanca has issued an unprecedented ruling that could have a major impact on the operations of low-cost airlines across Europe. The court ruled that the airline "Ryanair"must refund passengers additional amounts paid for hand luggage - about 150 euros for each flight between 2019 and 2024.
According to Spanish legislation and the 2014 case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), hand luggage is considered an integral part of passenger transport. Therefore, it should not be subject to additional charges, except in cases where the luggage exceeds security or size limits.
The court's decision emphasizes that hand luggage is not a luxury item, but a necessity for every traveler. Fly4free emphasizes that this topic has long been a topic of debate among travelers: some consider additional fees to be exploitation of passengers, while others consider them a means of offering cheaper tickets.
Court pressure and huge fines
This is not the first time that Spanish judges have taken to resolving disputes over the policies of low-cost airlines. Ryanair was already fined millions in 2019, and in 2024, five airlines were fined: Ryanair paid 108 million euros, easyJet 29 million, Vueling 39 million, Norwegian 1,6 million, and another company 1,2 million euros.
The decision was also supported by the consumer rights organization FACUA, which had previously criticized the additional fees as unjustified.
"Passengers are not walking ATMs"
Spanish lawyer Isaac Guijarro, who often represents travelers, said: "This decision shows that Ryanair cannot treat passengers like walking ATMs."
At the same time, Ryanair's position remains unchanged - a company representative stated that "all passengers are entitled to one free personal item (up to 40x25x20 cm), and additional baggage is offered for a fee if the passenger wishes."
While the ruling currently applies to specific passengers in Spain, it could have a ripple effect across the European Union. If more courts follow suit, airlines could be forced to abandon a practice that costs them millions of euros each year.
Travel experts predict that this decision could change the entire business model of low-cost aviation, especially if consumer protection organizations from other EU countries become more actively involved in the fight for passenger rights.
Prepared according to Gazeta.pl
