Spain expands probes to sixth budget airline over cabin luggage fees

Spain's Ministry of Consumer Affairs said on Thursday it has launched an investigation into a sixth low-cost airline over practices such as charging for larger cabin bags.

The ministry, which did not name the carrier, has already imposed fines totalling a combined 179 million euros ($211.24 million) on five other airlines over such practices.

A Spanish court temporarily suspended the fines on three of those airlines - Ryanair, Norwegian Air and IAG-owned Vueling - while the matter is under judicial review following legal challenges by those carriers.

The two other airlines fined were easyJet and privately owned Volotea. The ministry said the latest case could still take months.

The ministry has said the airlines violated customers' rights by charging for larger carry-on bags, as well as for selecting seats and printing out boarding passes and by not allowing cash payments at check-in desks or to buy items on board.

The five airlines were allowed to continue charging for larger cabin bags and for passengers choosing specific seats during the legal proceedings.

Ryanair and Industry group ALA have said the fines are groundless as the practices are common in most of the European Union. ($1 = 0.8474 euros)