RYANAIR’S 60M SPANISH PASSENGERS IN 2024 SAVED OVER €250M AND DON’T NEED OR WANT BUSTINDUY’S INTERFERENCE IN AGREED BAG POLICIES

Ryanair, today (Thurs, 30 Jan) responded to the false claims of Spanish Minister Pablo Bustinduy, who yesterday claimed that his illegal airline baggage fines of €179m were somehow “defending the rights of consumers in Spain”. These claims are false. These illegal fines, if not overturned, increase flight costs for millions of Spanish consumers.

Ryanair’s CEO Michael O’Leary said:

“This Minister’s first duty is to respect EU law. EU law guarantees all EU airlines the freedom to set prices and policies free from interference by “grand standing Ministers” like Bustinduy. In this case, he has imposed an illegal fine of €179m on the low-fare airlines operating in Spain. These low fare airlines, led by Ryanair, have transformed air travel and tourism in Spain by dramatically lowering air fares for consumers and their families. We can only do this by implementing policies which change passenger behaviour, and encourage passengers to travel with less checked in bags, less carry-on bags, and to encourage those passengers who wish to pay for their preferred seat to do so, while still allowing passengers who don’t care where they sit to avoid any seat fees whatsoever.

This grand standing Minister cannot suddenly overturn this EU law in Spain or tell EU airlines how to set their prices. The immediate impact of this crazy and illegal fine of €179m would be passed onto Spanish passengers in the form of higher fares. We are confident this will not happen because European Union law takes precedence over the unlawful fines levied by this misguided Minister and that Spanish consumers can continue to look forward to enjoying the lowest fares in Europe, thanks to Ryanair and other airlines, free from the political games being played by Pablo Bustinduy. It is typical of these left-wing minority Minitsters that they think they can fine companies without realising that these fines get passed onto consumers, and that is why EU airline pricing law takes priority over the crazy and illegal fines invented by this silly Minister.

If Minister Bustinduy really wants to “defend consumers” in Spain, then why has he failed to take any action against OTAs who are overcharging unsuspecting consumers, or against ATC providers who cause so many avoidable flight delays across Europe every summer? Ryanair carried over 6m consumers on flights to/from and within Spain in 2024. We saved these consumers over €250m compared to the higher fares of competitor airlines and these 60m Ryanair passengers are happy to accept Ryanair’s very clear baggage and seating policies in return for Ryanair’s very low air fares. The last thing Ryanair passengers want is Mr. Bustinduy interfering in, or increasing, Ryanair’s low air fares so he can grandstand with his unlawful bag fines, which are clearly in breach of EU laws.”