In a significant move to protect consumer rights, Spain's Consumer Rights Ministry has imposed a total of €179m in fines on five budget airlines, including Ryanair, EasyJet, Vueling, Norwegian, and Volotea. The fines, which are the largest ever issued by the ministry, are a result of an investigation into the airlines' "abusive practices" such as charging for hand luggage and reserving seats for children. Ryanair, the largest low-cost carrier in Europe, has been hit with the largest fine of €108m, followed by EasyJet's penalty of €29m. Vueling, Norwegian, and Volotea have also been fined €39m, €1.6m, and €1.2m respectively. The ministry has accused the airlines of providing misleading information and not being transparent with prices, making it difficult for consumers to compare offers and make informed decisions. The fines were calculated based on the "illicit profit" obtained by each airline from these practices.