Jurídicos y Administrativos

🛫 Imserso warns awarded companies against creating confusion similar to the past issue with Mundosenior and Mundiplan. Companies must not include non-program related advertising, links to other websites, or information that could mislead pensioners. Agencies must use approved advertising and cannot promote non-program related activities or offer unrelated promotions or discounts.

🏖 W2M, owned by Iberostar, partnered with Mundiplan to bid for Imserso's tourism program contract, aiming to improve the declining service. The Temporary Union of Companies (UTE), including IAG7, Alsa, and W2M (replacing Iberia), is developing a competitive proposal against Ávoris and Senior Live (UTE by Travel Live and Seniorplan). Final proposals are due by May 19. Imserso, addressing past unrealistic offers, has tightened penalties, with potential fines totaling up to €80 million.

✈️ Ryanair's appeals against Aena's 2022 airport charges were rejected by Spain's Audiencia Nacional, affirming the legality of a 3.17% interannual decrease. Despite Ryanair's argument for a 10.99% reduction and claims of pandemic costs being disproportionally charged, the court confirmed compliance with DORA regulations and CNMC's stance that 2020-2021 COVID-19 costs should be included in 2022 fees. The airline, also accusing Aena of abusing its dominant position, was ordered to pay €10,000 in legal costs and has the option to appeal further.

🏥 IAG, parent company of Iberia and Vueling, feels the impact of Trump's policies, noticing weakness in US-origin leisure travel economy class sales, offset by strength in premium cabins. Latin America and Europe markets remain strong, North Atlantic demand robust. As of May 6, 80% booked for Q2 with higher revenues than previous year; 29% booked for H2, on par with 2024. CEO Luis Gallego cites resilient demand in all markets, especially premium cabins, amidst macroeconomic uncertainty. Concerns include new tariff regimes and geopolitical dialogue between US, Russia, China, EU, and UK affecting markets and passenger flows.

🏕 In Catalonia, tourism tax is usually paid by guests to accommodations and later settled with the Catalan Tax Agency. Officials, Juli Fernández, Jaume Baró, and Cristina Lagé, briefed the tourism sector on plans to postpone the tax. A new decree with retroactive effect from May 1 will be approved next Tuesday to delay the tax hike initially set for May 1. This follows confusion at the Parlament on May 8, where the tax increase was theoretically validated. The hospitality industry's ConfeCat demands the immediate repeal of the decree law.

🏠 In Spain, the Tax Agency will include Airbnb hosts' incomes in taxpayers' fiscal data due to the European directive DAC7. Hosts with over 30 transactions or earnings above €2,000 in 2024 will be identified. Rental income must be declared as property income without fiscal reductions; additional services require VAT registration. This aims to increase transparency and compliance in vacation rental earnings.

👮 Manos Limpias filed a criminal complaint against Renfe and Adif presidents, Álvaro Fernández Heredia and Luis Pedro Marco, including María Esther Mateo and Andrés Cortabitarte, for alleged gross negligence after the AVE Madrid-Sevilla line stopped due to a cable theft on a Sunday. Over 10,000 passengers were stranded without food, water, or information. Approximately 150 meters of copper worth about €1,000 were stolen, disrupting service until Monday noon. The complaint cites Article 267 of the Penal Code, which considers sanctions for damages over €80,000.

✈ Ryanair has been ordered by the Court of First Instance and Preliminary Inquiry No. 1 of Vitigudino (Salamanca) to refund €147 to a passenger, Yolanda Garrido, for improperly charging for carry-on luggage on five flights between 2019 and 2024. The judge ruled that carry-on baggage is essential and cannot incur an additional fee, with no appeal against the decision. This adds to similar rulings against Ryanair and other airlines in Huesca, Valladolid, Cádiz, and San Sebastián. In November 2023, Spain fined five airlines, including Ryanair, €179 million for such practices. The air navigation law requires that the ticket include luggage transport, barring safety-related reasons regarding weight or size.

📅 Spain's Consumer Affairs Minister Pablo Bustinduy criticizes variable airline pricing, especially during peak travel dates. He labels the practice as exploitative, pointing out the inconsistency with fixed operational costs. His remarks come amid revelations that government-run Imserso travel programs will impose a €100 surcharge during high-demand periods, contrary to his stance on airline pricing. This highlights the government's own use of demand-based pricing without offering lower costs in off-peak times.

🏖️ The Catalan Parliament validated a tourist tax increase on Wednesday, causing confusion among accommodations due to immediate effect and legal uncertainty. Although a new decree is expected to suspend the hike until October, the tourism sector demands the repeal of the current decree. The Catalan Government advises against charging the increased tax until the new decree's approval next Tuesday. Political discord arose as the Commons did not support the postponement, leaving the PSC and ERC without a majority.