Jurídicos y Administrativos

📌 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.

🚀 In a security breach at T4 of Barajas Airport, a private vehicle mistakenly accessed the aircraft boarding walkway. The incident was reported by El Mundo and occurred when a young driver, following his GPS to pick up his grandmother, reached the finger area but not the aircraft maneuvering zone. Aena clarified that the car was in a service lane within a tunnel and never reached the aircraft movement area. The vehicle was intercepted by the Civil Guard shortly after, prompting an investigation by Aena and the Civil Guard to assign responsibilities.

🚩 Following the recent collision of an American Airlines CRJ plane with a military helicopter resulting in 70 fatalities, President Donald Trump's administration has dismissed hundreds of air traffic controllers nationwide. The layoffs included apprentices and radar maintenance personnel as well, announced by David Spero, president of the Aviation Safety Specialist union. Air traffic controllers' union is assessing the impact on air safety and their members. FAA workers were also barred from entering FAA buildings. The U.S. is facing an air traffic controller shortage crisis due to non-competitive salaries and long shifts.

💰 María Teresa Sancho, Imserso's general director, and Deputy Director Patricia Gemma Saldaña meet with tourism sector leaders at the CEOE headquarters in Madrid. They discuss Imserso's tourism program reforms due to quality decline from budget issues. Proposals include updating remuneration for hosting pensions (current €25-26 vs. real cost €34 per night) and agencies' earnings (€14.50 per spot sold). After not renewing Ávoris' contract, Sancho pledges changes for the upcoming season, targeting system access and user profile adaptation.

🏠 Venice's city council assessed the entry fee effect in 2024, finding that tourist numbers did not decrease. Despite the unchanged volume, the council will double the fee in some cases. Simone Venturini, Tourism Councillor, reported that €2.4 million was collected in 29 days by the end of July. The fee will rise from €5 to €10 for those buying passes less than four days in advance, effective from April 18 to May 4, and on weekends thereafter until August, with a pause until 2026. Residents, workers, students, and overnight guests are exempt. The system operates online, and fines for non-payment range from €50 to €300.

🛫 Lidija Miliute, 26, flew with Ryanair from Palenga, Lithuania, to Ireland on March 28, 2022. She suffered second-degree burns when a cup of hot tea slid from a faulty tray. Despite first aid from the crew and an onboard nurse, she endured hours of uncontrollable pain. An Irish court awarded her €55,000 for "considerable pain and suffering," although Ryanair denies the tray was defective.

📸 Begoña Gómez, wife of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, allegedly influenced the government's decision to rescue Air Europa. Víctor de Aldama, a commission agent, confirmed Gómez's involvement in discussions about the airline's financial aid. The airline was reportedly losing one million euros daily. Gómez had seven meetings with Aldama and a phone conversation with Sánchez in front of Aldama and Javier Hidalgo. Wakalua, a Globalia subsidiary, agreed to pay 25,000 euros annually to Gómez's foundation. The issue remains largely unnoticed by Spanish media and public.