Miguel Praga

💸 Wizz Air, Transavia, and Eurowings are accused by Facua of illegal practices for imposing hand luggage fees or additional charges, initially reported in June. Following a €179 million fine against Ryanair, Vueling, Easyjet, Norwegian, and Volotea for similar charges, Facua urges the Ministry of Social Rights to sanction these airlines. Wizz Air's Basic fare allows only a 40x30x20 cm item, forcing upgrades or extra fees for a 10 kg bag. Transavia and Eurowings have similar restrictions, requiring higher fare purchases or additional payments for larger hand luggage.

🏨 Airlines triumph over Aena as Spain's National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) decides to keep airport tariffs frozen at a 0% variation for 2025, denying Aena's proposed increase of 0.54%. CNMC adjusted Aena's overly conservative traffic forecast for 2025 and set the Maximum Adjusted Revenue Per Passenger (IMAAJ) at €10.35, consistent with 2024 rates. The 0% average variation of the IMAAJ will be asymmetrically distributed among services.

🕵️ Javier Hidalgo testified before the Senate Commission regarding alleged influence peddling involving the Spanish President's wife and the Air Europa bailout. He was serene in court but read a statement in the Senate, disputing favoritism claims. Hidalgo has strong ties to the Popular Party and their notable members like the Aznar family and former ministers Acebes and Michavila. Controversies involve unclear situations with figures such as Koldo, Ábalos, and the suspicious OMT secretary-general. Begoña Gómez, the President's wife, visited only Globalia's headquarters among rescued companies and met with Hidalgo Jr. and an unnamed commissioner without guards in San Petersburgo. Hidalgo's claims of 50,000 employees and 35 hotels were challenged as inaccurate.

🛈 In the UK, the top source market for Spain with 16.5 million tourists and a spending of €20.343 billion in the first ten months, a new travel documentation regulation, despite unanimous opposition from the tourism sector and negative votes in both the Senate and Congress, took effect on Monday, December 2. The measure aimed at combating organized crime and terrorism has sparked negative media reactions and calls for a boycott, suggesting British citizens "are not welcome in Spain," risking the viability of Spain's tourism sector.