Ryanair president publicly labels Bustinduy as a communist minister due to his handling of baggage matters.
Takeoff Troubles: Ryanair's Ran-diss with Spain's Quirky Minister
Brussels, Jan 29 (EFE).- Irish tycoon Michael O'Leary, the brains behind budget carrier juggernaut Ryanair, has branded Spanish Minister of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and Sustainability, Pablo Bustinduy, a "loony Marxist minster" for slapping a whopping €179 million in fines onto five aviation juggernauts (Ryanair, Vueling, Easyjet, Norwegian, and Volotea) for tacking on extra costs for hand luggage and adjacent seats for companions.
"He imagines folks can carry as much luggage as they wish—and no, they can't," O'Leary exclaimed at a press conference in Brussels.
These penalties were threaten last November and stem from pointed practices by the airlines, such as sneaky fees for hand luggage or pairs of seats to keep families together, according to the Ministry.
The heftiest fee, which O'Leary thinks "illegal," is a staggering €107,775,777 for Ryanair, followed by Vueling with €39,264,412, Easyjet with €29,094,441, Norwegian with €1,610,001, and Volotea with €1,189,000. EFE
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Buzzwords:Ryanair, Michael O'Leary, Pablo Bustinduy, Brussels, Vueling, Easyjet, Low-cost airlines, Fines, Hand luggage, Social rights, EFE
Intriguing Insights:- Feuding Over Fees: Ryanair's foundational exchange with Spain's Consumer Affairs Minister, Pablo Bustinduy, stems from an ongoing debate concerning check-in baggage fees. The aviation mogul considers the fees standard policy, while the minister has publicly contested them.- Flying Reductions: Ryanair has disclosed plans to lessen flights at seven Spanish airports in 2025, attributing the move partly to "excessive fees" by Aena, the state-owned airport operator.- Recent Hiccups: These financial feuds brew over the broader regulatory disagreements and come in the wake of operational difficulties for the airline in Spain, such as a stranding incident involving passengers due to a flight diversion.
- The fines imposed by Spain's Minister of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and Sustainability, Pablo Bustinduy, on low-cost airlines like Ryanair, Vueling, Easyjet, Norwegian, and Volotea, total an imposing €107,775,777 for Ryanair alone.
- Michael O'Leary, the founder of the budget carrier juggernaut Ryanair, has been in a heated debate with Spain's Minister Pablo Bustinduy over extra costs for hand luggage and adjacent seats, with O'Leary recently branding Bustinduy a "loony Marxist minister."
- Topics such as industry regulations, business finance, and consumer affairs have recently become contentious between Michael O'Leary and Pablo Bustinduy, creating a stir in the aviation industry.
- The feud between Ryanair and Spain's Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs, and Sustainability largely revolves around alleged excessive fees for check-in baggage, with Ryanair planning to reduce flights at seven Spanish airports in 2025, citing these fees as a contributing factor.
