Jurídicos y Administrativos

💸 GrowPro, an agency specializing in study abroad trips, has entered bankruptcy, affecting hundreds of students with plans for Australia and other countries. Camila Verger, among others, lost €5,000 earmarked for studies in Australia. GrowPro blames policy changes in Canada and Australia, halting sales but promising ongoing support. Customers, like María who transferred €1,800 on February 7, face unresponsive company representatives. The company, with a virtual office, made €20 million in 2023, serving 4,000 students. Legal advice is being sought by affected individuals.

🛫 A judicial decision mandates that aircraft at Barcelona's El Prat Airport depart from the shorter, sea-adjacent runway, defying global norms where the longer runway is typically used for takeoffs to accommodate heavier aircraft. This unique arrangement is due to local residents' complaints about noise, resulting in a ruling to limit overflight of nearby homes. Debate on this issue resurfaced during consultations for airport expansion, with suggestions to revert to conventional runway usage before investing in enlargement.

💣 Delta Air Lines responded to social media allegations linking a recent crash in Toronto to the airline's hiring practices, particularly prioritizing women pilots. Donald Trump previously criticized American for its diversity hiring after an unrelated incident. Investigations have not substantiated Trump's claims. Delta maintains its crew is fully qualified and FAA-certified, with the male captain having experience since 2007, and the female first officer being trained for her role 10 months ago, since 2024. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, with some indications pointing to a detached wing.

💥 Delta Airlines offers $30,000 to each passenger involved in the Toronto airport accident, covering both the 21 injured passengers and the 60 unharmed. The CRJ aircraft flew from Minneapolis; causes remain under investigation. Delta's policy aims to care for passengers, preserving their rights to seek further compensation. The airline's total payout reaches $2.3 million, with no details on payouts to crew or claim processes.

🛫 The Palma de Mallorca Airport's expansion and modernization have sparked complaints from travelers and workers, led to Balearic government intervention, and may result in labor mobilizations before Easter. Passengers face confusion and delays due to security checkpoint and boarding gate reorganization, reduced terminal services, and increased noise and dust. Workers, affected by space relocation and poor preventive measures, are at risk, with inadequate ventilation and rest areas. The government demands Aena review labor conditions and implement necessary safety measures. Key improvements include a new security filter area, direct aircraft access via walkways, and better vehicle and parking access.

💰 Imserso's director general, María Teresa Sancho, plans to include foreign citizens in the Spanish senior tourism program, sparking opposition from the tourism sector due to financial concerns. Turismo Social (Ávoris) supports the idea, yet hoteliers and travel agencies warn of reduced profitability. They fear market-priced customers demanding similar rates and deem overseas trips for Imserso-accredited Spaniards as unviable.

📌 Reyes Maroto, former Tourism Minister and current opposition leader in Madrid's City Council, used silence as her defense strategy in the Senate regarding her involvement with Javier Hidalgo amidst a corruption investigation into Aldama, Koldo, and Ábalos. Maroto previously lied about her contacts with Aldama, with 42 messages found by the UCO. She met with Hidalgo in July 2020 during Globalia's airline bailout negotiations, where her opinion was influential. Maroto's response to a message from Aldama is encrypted and unrevealed by the Guardia Civil.

🏠 El Ministerio de Consumo de España inicia expedientes sancionadores contra empresas de pisos turísticos en varias comunidades autónomas por prácticas engañosas, violando la Ley General para la Defensa de Consumidores y Usuarios. Investigación motivada por denuncias sobre engaños en la gestión de viviendas turísticas, se extiende por más de dos meses. Infracciones pueden acarrear sanciones de hasta 100.000 euros, potencialmente multiplicadas hasta seis veces el beneficio ilícito obtenido. Gobierno español ya abrió un expediente contra Airbnb en diciembre y mantiene otra investigación sobre prácticas abusivas de agencias inmobiliarias desde octubre. Ministro Pablo Bustinduy vincula las medidas a la lucha contra la crisis de la vivienda.

💸 Spain's Consumer Affairs has imposed a €179 million fine on Ryanair, Vueling, Easyjet, Volotea, and Norwegian for charging for carry-on baggage. These low-cost airlines are concerned that the Spanish Government's actions, ahead of the European Commission's ruling, could prohibit their business model. The airlines seek a suspension of the sanctioning file from the National High Court to delay compliance until the European Commission's decision. If Spain's policy is enforced, the airlines would have to alter their commercial practices differently for flights originating outside Spain, potentially disadvantaging them against competitors.

💸 ACAVE representatives met with PSOE MEPs in Brussels to discuss Spanish travel agencies' concerns regarding the application of Royal Decree 933/2021. ACAVE's manager, Catiana Tur, outlined planned actions in Brussels and Spain to eliminate travel agencies from the traveler registry and ensure consumer data protection. This meeting followed discussions with representatives of the European People's Party. ACAVE will challenge the ministerial order if it fails to meet the sector's demands. The European Commission is currently reviewing the legality of the Decree.