The Spanish Ministry of Consumer Affairs has fined five airlines (Ryanair, Vueling, Easyjet, Norwegian and Volotea) €179 million for abusive practices such as charging extra for hand luggage or reserving adjacent seats for accompanying disabled persons and children.

The largest fine is for Ryanair with €107,775,777 euros, followed by Vueling with €39,264,412 euros, Easyjet with €29,094,441 euros, Norwegian with €1,610,001 euros and Volotea with €1,189,000 euros, according to the Ministry.

Minister Pablo Bustinduy told the press that ‘no company, no matter how big or powerful, is above the law’ and that ‘there can be no business models based on the violation of consumer rights or abusive practices’.

The sanctions also include an explicit prohibition to continue the sanctioned practices, such as charging a surcharge for hand luggage in the cabin, a surcharge on the price of the ticket for the reservation of adjacent seats in the case of minors and dependent persons and their companions, and not allowing payment in cash at Spanish airports.

In the case of Ryanair, the airline has also been penalised for charging passengers a “disproportionate” amount for printing out their tickets at the terminal when they do not have them. The airline has already announced that it will ‘immediately’ appeal against the ‘illegal and unjustified’ fines.

The president of the Consumers and Users Council, Ana Caballero, welcomed the sanctions because they “serve to protect the interests of consumers and users”, and reiterated that “until the sanction is final, the new conditions cannot be applied”.

The airlines have said they will appeal.