SPAIN. Spanish airport authority AENA has released a press statement which has reaffirmed the rights of passengers flying from Spain to carry their onboard purchases free of charge.
The release, titled “Aena Airports wish to remind that the law allows for products acquired in airports shops to be brought onboard”, emphasises that: “The transport of “duty-free” shopping bags is obligatory for all companies without exception, and must be done so for free. Airlines can only deny access for objective reasons of security and have to inform accordingly.”
AENA also recommends that any passengers denied this right should lodge a complaint with AESA, the Spanish National Aviation Security Agency.
The release follows the adoption of the Bradbourn Report at the European Parliament earlier this month. (The Report was presented by British MEP Philip Bradbourn, on behalf of the Transport and Tourism Committee.) The Committee has approved measures that, if adopted, would outlaw airline credit-card charges and end the “one-bag” policy imposed by certain airlines, which has hit travel retail sales hard.
Last year AENA insisted that Ryanair and other carriers comply with new rules that underline passengers’ rights to carry onboard separate bags with shopping purchases at its airports, following the Spanish government’s law banning airlines from enforcing the notorious “one bag rule”. Ryanair in particular had forced passengers to pay extra to take their shopping purchases onboard.
