The court halts Bustinduy's sanctions against Ryanair and Norwegian for charging for hand luggage.

The Madrid High Court (TSJM) has agreed to suspend the sanctions imposed by Pablo Bustinduy from the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumption, and the 2030 Agenda on Ryanair and Norwegian for charging for carry-on baggage, but has imposed bank guarantees totaling €110 million.

Thus, the sixth section of the Administrative Litigation Division of the judicial body has granted the precautionary measures requested by both airlines, which have challenged the November 21, 2024, penalties amounting to €107,775,777 in the case of Ryanair and € 1,610,000 in the case of Norwegian.

The sanctions imposed on airlines are due to practices such as, in addition to charging for hand luggage , charging for reserving adjacent seats to accompany dependents or minors and for not allowing payment of these additional costs in cash.

Likewise, sanctions have also been issued for requiring payment for printing boarding passes at the airport, for omitting information, and for the lack of clarity in the prices published on its website and on those of third parties.

However, the Court's judges have made this suspension of the fines conditional on the provision of a bank guarantee of €110 million for Ryanair and €1.8 million for Norwegian, amounts that include the fine and interest.

The court agreed to suspend the ministerial sanction as a precautionary measure, given the "impossibility—at this stage of the proceedings—of prejudging the merits of the case" and because it is "evident that the sum demanded is, indeed, very high, and its early payment would cause a delay and difficulties for the appellant's treasury."

The total fine imposed by the Consumer Protection Agency amounts to €179 million and also affects Volotea, Vueling, and easyJet. All companies have appealed the fine to the European Commission, and the agency is awaiting a decision.