Ryanair has been ordered by a Spanish court to refund a passenger €147 in what is being hailed as a major victory for airline passengers across Europe.
The ruling, issued by a court in Salamanca, found that the budget airline wrongly charged for hand luggage on five separate flights taken between 2019 and 2024. The judge ruled that carry-on luggage is an "essential element of passenger transport" and should not be subject to extra fees.
The case was backed by Spanish consumer rights group Facua and is expected to have wider implications for the airline industry. The judge cited a 2014 decision from the EU Court of Justice, which declared that airlines cannot charge for cabin baggage that meets reasonable size and weight limits.
Spanish law also appears to support the court’s decision. Article 97 of Spain’s Air Navigation Act states that airlines must carry both passengers and their hand luggage at no extra cost.
Legal expert Isaac Guijarro, who commented on the case, described the outcome as a “huge win for travellers everywhere.” He said: “This shows Ryanair can’t treat passengers like walking ATMs. The only valid reason to deny hand luggage is for safety, like excessive weight or size, but these were standard cabin bags within 55x35x25cm.”
Ryanair’s Current Policy Under Scrutiny
Ryanair’s current policy allows one small personal bag for free, such as a handbag, laptop bag or backpack, that must fit under the seat in front and not exceed 40x20x25cm. Larger cabin bags come with a fee, which is sometime bundled with priority boarding and seat costs.
The court decision raises questions over whether such policies are enforceable under EU and Spanish law. While Ryanair has not yet responded publicly to the ruling, pressure is mounting for low-cost carriers to reassess their cabin baggage charges in the wake of the verdict.
Consumer groups are urging other passengers who have faced similar fees to come forward.
