Jurídicos y Administrativos

🛑 Air Europa purchased 1.28 million KN95 masks for €2.37 million from Soluciones de Gestión, under investigation for fraud against Canary and Balearic governments, in response to the COVID-19 emergency declared on March 14, 2020. Each mask cost €1.85, lower than other administrations paid, such as Canary Islands at €2.5 per unit. The transaction, dated February 22, 2022, was disclosed to the Spanish Tax Agency. Air Europa denies any link with Víctor de Aldama or the alleged corruption network.

🏖️ En España, el 54% de los españoles apoya la implementación de tasas turísticas para limitar el overtourism; en Dinamarca, el apoyo es del 53%. La encuesta de YouGov en agosto de 2024 incluyó a 9.621 personas de siete países europeos. En España, Cataluña y Baleares ya aplican impuestos por pernoctaciones, con Barcelona entre las ciudades con tasas más altas. Las ecotasas no están diseñadas para controlar la afluencia turística, sino para el mantenimiento de espacios. La tasa turística más cara del mundo es de 100 euros al día en Bután.

💸 Spain's Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, faces data from the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) indicating that Renfe's low-cost subsidiary Avlo has even more aggressive pricing than rival Ouigo. In the third quarter of 2024, on the Madrid-Barcelona route, Ouigo's average price was €43.16 compared to Avlo's €45.31, with Iryo being the cheapest at €41.74. Madrid-Valencia and Madrid-Alicante routes show Avlo with lower prices than Ouigo at €24.14 vs €26.16 and €27.90 vs €31.46, respectively. Despite Puente's announcement in May about taking Ouigo's alleged unfair competition to the European Commission, no complaint has been filed yet.

🏠 The new Spanish regulation mandates that short-term rental hosts and online platforms must comply with its rules, regardless of their location. Landlords must register their properties and platforms must ensure visibility of these registration numbers in listings. The Single Digital Window for Rentals in Spain, overseen by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Agenda, will facilitate data transmission between platforms and authorities. Compliance with administrative orders to remove or disable listings with suspended or withdrawn registration numbers must be within 48 hours.

📌 Spain's new single rental registry will take effect on January 2, with full application from July 1, 2025. Government extends free transportation passes until June 30, 2025, with 50% discounts on Avant passes throughout the year. Meliá Hotels International invests over $50 million in a 5-star hotel in Ushuaia, the southernmost in its chain. Barcelona ranks sixth and Alicante leads growth by 22% in the 2024 top world destinations. Tourist apartments in Catalonia claim over €4.280 billion, potentially reaching €7 billion, due to new regulations. Iberostar to open its 16th hotel in Mallorca on April 11. Silken Hotels opens its second establishment in Canary Islands with SAAJ Hotels. Spain sees an annual increase of 55% in branded residences, with at least 8 new projects confirmed. Hyatt and Grupo Piñero establish a joint venture in Palma to manage Bahia Principe Hotels & Resorts. Spain moves towards a 37.5-hour workweek by 2025 after an agreement between the Ministry of Labor, CCOO, and UGT.

📨 Google, influenced by the EU's Digital Markets Act, scaled back details in hotel searches, testing a minimal display—just a blue line with the hotel's name—in Germany, Belgium, and Estonia. Legal Director Oliver Bethell noted that users were dissatisfied, taking longer to find information, leading to fewer hotel accesses and increased search abandonment. Google ceased the trial and is seeking a resolution with the European Commission to address the regulatory concerns without causing user experience issues.

🏖 Tribunal Supremo rules on mobile homes in Tarragona, December 11: Supreme Court dismisses Agrocamping SL's resource against the decision of the Superior Court of Justice of Catalonia, supporting Tarragona's 2018 decree denying legalization of mobile homes on non-developable land. Tarragona City Council, satisfied, clarifies mobile homes equated to prefabricated houses, requiring a license before installation. Federación Catalana de Campings and Federación Española de Campings find no significant impact on the industry as licensing requirements for mobile homes are already established in Catalonia.

💥 Joo Jong-wan, vicedirector de la agencia de aviación civil de Corea, informa que una de las dos cajas negras del avión siniestrado no pudo ser salvada. Los especialistas sospechan que los pilotos realizaron maniobras inusuales y aterrizaron a alta velocidad sin desplegar el tren de aterrizaje ni los mecanismos de frenado. La policía intervino la sede de Jeju Airlines y restringió la salida del país del director Kim E-bae. Se cuestiona el mantenimiento de aviones low cost coreanos fuera del país.

📍 Ryanair CEO, Michael O'Leary, criticizes excessive regulation and taxation in European economies such as France, Germany, and the UK, advocating for deregulation and growth-focused policies. Ryanair plans to receive over 350 new aircraft in the next decade, aiming to increase passengers from 200 to 300 million annually. O'Leary urges EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to improve European air traffic control, eliminate aviation charges, and restore free movement to bolster aviation, tourism, and jobs, especially in Europe's peripheral regions.

✈️ Polish Government allocated €10.5 billion for phase one of a mega airport, set to conclude in 2032, with a capacity of 34 million passengers annually, integrating the country's train networks with the terminal. Centralny Port Komunikacyjny and Polish Airports, largely state-owned companies, are leading the development, with the former having a majority. The airport will be located near Lodz, central Poland, enhancing access for the populous south and the capital.