Spain adds Wizz Air to probe of budget airlines over cabin luggage fees

Spain adds Wizz Air to probe of budget airlines over cabin luggage fees

MADRID (Reuters) -European low-cost carrier Wizz Air confirmed on Thursday that it was the latest airline to be investigated by Spain's Ministry of Consumer Affairs over practices such as charging for larger cabin bags.

The ministry, which had not named the carrier when it announced the latest investigation on Wednesday, has already imposed fines totalling a combined 179 million euros ($211 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.

A Wizz Air spokesperson confirmed the airline was the subject of the investigation but declined to comment further, instead referring Reuters to a statement about a wider European Parliament move to stop airlines charging for hand luggage. Such a rule would destroy current commercial freedom and customer choice, making flying more expensive, the statement said.

The Spanish ministry has said the airlines violated customers' rights by charging for larger carry-on bags, seat selection and printing boarding passes, as well as by not allowing cash payments at check-in or for on-board purchases.

The five airlines already investigated 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)

(Reporting by Corina Pons and Sarah Young, Editing by Susan Fenton and Lisa Shumaker)