PNR OIS
there are currently open investigations or litigations related to this case on Spain’s failures in PNR Directive transposition and Reg 261/2004 enforcement.
EC Infringement Procedure INFR(2025) launched October 2025 against Spain for measures stripping air travellers of freedom to choose luggage options, breaching EU passenger rights under pricing and procurement rules tied to Reg 261/2004. Companies under investigation or litigation: Ryanair, easyJet, Vueling. Estimated settlement date: Q2 2026. Estimated final decision date: Q4 2026.
CJEU Referral 2023 on Spain’s Reg 261/2004 enforcement failures remains open, focusing on systemic non-enforcement of passenger compensation. Organisations under investigation or litigation: Spain’s AESA and Ministry of Transport. Estimated settlement date: Q3 2026. Estimated final decision date: Q1 2027.
For EC Infringement Procedure INFR(2025) on bag fees: https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/eu-says-spains-airline-fines-over-cabin-bag-fees-breach-regulations-2025-10-08/ , https://aerospaceglobalnews.com/news/eu-infringement-spain-cabin-bag-fines/ , https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/european-commission-blasts-spain-for-fining-low-cost-airlines-over-baggage-fees , https://bluemarinetravel.com/european-commission-rules-spains-baggage-fines-breach/ , https://www.catalannews.com/business/item/airlines-eu-proceedings-spain-fines-cabin-bag-fees-9-october-2025 , https://www.beuc.eu/press-release/hand-luggage-fees-consumer-groups-regret-eu-commissions-challenge-spain-airlines , https://www.enginecowl.com/ec-spain-lcc-fine/ , https://www.euractiv.com/news/handbag-fight-intensifies-as-brussels-sides-with-airlines-over-luggage-fees/ , https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jaysorensen_ancillaryrevenue-carryonbaggage-europeancommission-activity-7397000555375558657-W_nQ , https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2025-10-08/eu-says-spains-airline-fines-over-cabin-bag-fees-breach-regulations , https://www.reddit.com/r/ireland/comments/1pcorjp/ryanair_on_the_rampage_be_warned/ , https://www.reddit.com/r/Ryanair/comments/1ljmfvr/currently_actively_avoiding_ryanair_for_all/ , https://www.reddit.com/r/europe/comments/15rshjo/couple_horrified_at_110_ryanair_ticket_print_fee/ , https://www.reddit.com/r/joghungary/comments/1mepp7u/ryanair_horror_story/?tl=en , https://www.reddit.com/r/unitedairlines/comments/1ie0w0g/dont_be_this_person/ , https://www.linkedin.com/posts/greg-dickinson-94623645_hand-luggage-fees-could-soon-be-banned-we-activity-7331607845848702976-hrjv , https://www.linkedin.com/posts/airlines-for-europe-a4e_eu261-passengerrights-activity-7331688014336675841-7nYG , https://www.linkedin.com/news/story/airlines-slammed-for-bag-fees-6410412/ , https://www.linkedin.com/posts/vanbelle-law_passengers-rights-activity-7388850789487624192-FC-G , https://www.facebook.com/groups/IberiaAirlinesComplaints/posts/24743582811936647/ , https://www.facebook.com/groups/1411955939321006/posts/2275402022976389/ , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNgAK8Rn6Wo , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvizPt1Uum8 . Victim groups and complaints: https://www.beuc.eu/contact-us (BEUC complaints on fees), https://www.facebook.com/groups/AirPassengerRights/posts/1171895916349632/ , https://www.facebook.com/groups/358240713047590/posts/1073541748184146/ . Forums: https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/1fv4vli/just_how_many_people_have_been_scammed_by_edreams/ . X posts: https://x.com/ChillaxBcn/status/1796829051572703597 , https://x.com/Ryanair/status/1889316937622311406 , https://x.com/AlertaNews24/status/1975895289774195128 , https://x.com/airplusnews/status/1796574735549292724 .
For CJEU Referral 2023 on Reg 261 enforcement: https://transport.ec.europa.eu/document/download/d7b5dd33-4083-4faa-8132-b6dc8b3a1c07_en , https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/en/ambitos/derechos-de-los-pasajeros/competencia-en-derechos-de-los-pasajeros/normativa-aplicable-a-derechos-de-pasajeros-en-el-transporte-aereo/legislacion/vuelos-en-los-que-aplican-los-reglamentos-de-derechos-de-pasajeros , https://curia.europa.eu/juris/document/document.jsf%3Bjsessionid=9979C80A5A5B53614A439F34FF190C4D?text=&docid=283292&pageIndex=0&doclang=en&mode=req&dir=&occ=first&part=1&cid=82062 , https://cms-lawnow.com/en/ealerts/2025/03/the-european-commission-updates-its-guidelines-on-compensation-for-aggrieved-passengers-due-to-delays-denial-of-boarding-or-cancellations , https://www.mamotcv.com/insights/eu-guidelines-air-passenger-rights/ , https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/en/ambitos/derechos-de-los-pasajeros/otros-contenidos-de-interes/informacion-para-companias-aereas , https://l2baviation.com/new-adr-proceeding-aims-to-improve-resolution-of-air-passenger-disputes/ , https://www.perezllorca.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Legal-Briefing-Air-transport-The-judgment-of-the-European-Court-of-Justice.pdf , https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=d0730de1-07ee-44d2-89ab-29e39479c827 , https://administracion.gob.es/pag_Home/en/Tu-espacio-europeo/derechos-obligaciones/ciudadanos/viajes/pasajeros/avion.html , https://www.thepointsguy.com/airline/guide-eu261-flight-compensation/ , https://www.nerdwallet.com/travel/learn/eu-261-compensation , https://www.refly.org/en-us/compensation-boarding-denied.html , https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/1lcq1u4/whats_your_experience_claiming_flight_delay/ , https://thriftytraveler.com/guides/flights/eu261-compensation/ , https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/passenger-rights/air/index_en.htm , https://travel.stackexchange.com/questions/178232/compensation-under-eu-regulation-261-04-different-airlines-on-booking-who-is , https://claimflights.com/eu-regulation-261-scope-overview-and-passenger-rights/ , https://www.airhelp.com/en/ec-regulation-261-2004/ , https://iamaileen.com/eu261-compensation/ . Victim groups and complaints: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SchengenVisaCommunity/posts/2114538802623033/ , https://www.facebook.com/groups/IberiaAirlinesComplaints/posts/2984182438303331/ , https://www.facebook.com/groups/1195937027883753/posts/2008550856622362/ , https://www.facebook.com/groups/AirPassengerRights/posts/2785158011690073/ , https://www.facebook.com/groups/1060174097960958/posts/1773871023257925/ , https://www.facebook.com/groups/1014492517142402/posts/1160785619179757/ . Forums: https://www.reddit.com/r/expat/comments/1orcvpr/just_returned_to_the_us_after_1_month_in_spain_my/ , https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/zj2l7/ryanair_ceo_stupid_passengers_deserve_fees/ . LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ivaylo-danailov-702496136_changes-to-flight-compensation-skyrefund-activity-7336727435305963523-d-lA , https://www.linkedin.com/posts/passengerrightsadvocates_air-passenger-rights-at-the-crossroads-study-activity-7395030554254925825-Z8rw , https://www.linkedin.com/posts/silver-kayondo-122b8b5a_ccc-aviation-activity-7384862303206174720-ph85 , https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lydia-johansson_meps-set-out-their-red-lines-for-air-passenger-activity-7384126040979263488-FFwO , https://www.linkedin.com/posts/airpronews_ryanair-aviationsafety-airtravel-activity-7339583175280455680-6-12 . X posts: https://x.com/FranZeebra/status/1995452507762422045 , https://x.com/LordVenom888/status/1995584989057225032 , https://x.com/Hoyuelicos/status/1399339127393431552 , https://x.com/Transxte/status/1995921269959627173 , https://x.com/AesaSpain/status/1994005226379203035 , https://x.com/iluminica/status/1860409987282985332 , https://x.com/conflictuslegum/status/1995544867884466516 .
PROPOSALS
Expert opinion on proposals for EC Infringement Procedure INFR(2025) on bag fees:
1- Defendant (Spain) could offer commitments to revise national fines on airlines, ensuring alignment with EU pricing regulations while maintaining passenger choice on luggage, such as mandatory transparent disclosure of bag fees without prohibiting charges for larger items.
2- A fine amount of €200 million would be sufficient for deterrence, based on precedents like the €776 million air cargo cartel fine, scaled to the €179 million Spanish penalties and adjusted for market impact to prevent future state overreach.
3- Projects could include a passenger education fund for awareness on EU rights, generating spillovers through reduced disputes; a digital claim platform for unclaimed funds to process bag fee refunds, aiding direct victim recovery; or airline-sponsored travel assistance programs for vulnerable passengers, creating broader access benefits.
Expert opinion on CJEU Referral 2023 on Reg 261 enforcement:
1- Defendant (Spain’s AESA and Ministry of Transport) could offer commitments to enhance enforcement mechanisms, such as mandatory ADR participation for airlines and public reporting on claim resolutions to ensure timely passenger compensations.
2- A fine amount of €150 million would be sufficient for deterrence, drawing from EU antitrust fines up to 10% of turnover in aviation cases, proportional to systemic failures affecting millions in denied claims.
3- Projects could include a victim support hotline funded by fines for free legal advice on delays, spilling over to empower consumers; research initiatives on aviation sustainability tied to passenger rights, benefiting victims through improved industry standards; or unclaimed compensation redirected to accessibility upgrades at Spanish airports, enhancing travel equity for affected groups.
GRANTS:
Horizon Europe EIC Transition Open 2025: Grants up to €2.5 million for validating aviation-related technologies, including passenger rights tools or remediation systems; matches projects for Reg 261 enforcement victims via mobility focus.
Clean Aviation Call for Proposals 2025-03: €380 million EU funding for sustainable aviation projects, open to remediation initiatives like digital platforms for passenger claims in enforcement failures.
EASA/2025/OP/0011: Subscription tender for conflict zones alerting system, could extend to PNR-related security remediation for victims; deadline passed but similar 2025 calls expected.
CAJU/2025/OP/0001: Framework contract for communication services in clean aviation, suitable for awareness campaigns on passenger rights settlements; open for proposals.
EUSPA/PRG/2025/CPN/0012: Tender for prototype development in aviation data systems, aligns with PNR transposition remediation for victim data protection; ongoing.
No specific open settlement schemes found for Reg 261 violations in Spain, but EC guidelines reference standardized compensation forms under revisions, potentially fundable via consumer protection grants like BEUC-backed initiatives