Automatic

💸 Spain's CNMC fined Booking.com €413 million on July 30, 2024, for abusing its dominant position and breaching competition laws. Booking's market share in Spain ranged from 70% to 90% during the investigation period. The fine addresses two continuous infringements: imposing unfair commercial conditions on Spanish hotels and restricting competition for other online travel agencies. Booking.com, which plans to appeal, had previously set aside $530 million in its 2023 accounts for an anticipated CNMC decision. The fine comprises two penalties of €206.62 million each. The CNMC also imposed behavioral obligations on Booking.com to prevent future similar conduct.

🛡 Juzgado de lo Mercantil nº12 de Barcelona has ordered Ryanair to immediately cease denigrating practices against eDreams, including a campaign of defamation against eDreams and its Prime program. Ryanair spread false claims, violating Article 9 of the Unfair Competition Law. Measures are in response to Ryanair's long-term smear tactics, designed to promote Ryanair.com. The court prohibited the use of terms like "scam," "deceit," and pirate-themed images. This follows a previous ruling by Spain's Supreme Court against Ryanair's denigration and anti-competitive behavior towards eDreams Odigeo. The airline's strategy is coercive, aimed at signing anti-competitive distribution agreements, distracting from their own abusive practices and investigations across Europe. eDreams' legal victories include a case against Ryanair's market dominance abuse in Italy and a recent German ruling against their deceptive consumer practices, despite a separate German legal win for Ryanair. Spanish authorities fined Ryanair approximately €100 million for anti-consumer practices, and French courts penalized them for passenger rights violations. eDreams has not signed a collaboration agreement with Ryanair, unlike other online travel agencies (OTAs), straining their relationship.