Irish budget airline Ryanair caused a stir, requesting nearly €100 for two local pastries, which they considered “extra baggage”.
Ryanair has been under scrutiny recently for yet another added charge. This time, they declared two local Mallorcan pastries, brought onboard by a couple, as extra baggage.
The two cakes were said to have exceeded the airline’s cabin baggage policy and incurred a hefty fee the couple could never have imagined.
Here’s what went down.
Ryanair charges a fee for local pastries – extra baggage
Ryanair is renowned for having all kinds of fees, which make even the most organised passenger second guess themselves and their luggage before boarding. But what happened a couple recently at Palma de Mallorca airport takes the biscuit.
While attempting to take two Mallorcan cakes, known as ensaïmadas, alongside their hand luggage, they were stopped in their tracks and told that they would need to hand over €45 for each of the delicacies.
The incident has sparked an outcry from the local authorities and has left passengers flabbergasted. As a result, the couple abandoned the sweet treats to avoid a whopping €90 fee.
The news of the hefty charge has sparked outrage among Spanish officials. Ryanair has been called to a meeting regarding the controversial incident.
Recent Ryanair pastry fee sparks outrage – something needs to change
Iago Negueruela, the tourism minister of the Balearic Islands, wasted no time calling an urgent meeting with the airline – known for its hidden extras at the best of times – alongside local pastry makers.
Describing it as an unjust incident, the authorities stated that Mallorcan goods bought outside the airport should be carried “without restrictions or extra fees” for passengers.
The tourism minister added that the meeting was necessary “to defend local produce and avoid any kind of discrimination” and “all the other airlines allow passengers to take two ensaïmadas on board” except for Ryanair.
The incident has outraged not only the Spanish authorities. Moreover, Pep Magraner, the president of the Balearic Islands pastry-makers association, also stated that “the rules need to be changed so sales of the regional treat are not impacted”.
Europe’s low-cost airline – no stranger to controversy
The airline is no stranger to controversial situations. In fact, days prior, police escorted a man off a Ryanair plane after he was caught smoking in the bathroom.
To add fuel to the fire, Mallorcan politician Jaume Alzamora has voiced his outrage. He stated that airport authority Aena does business with the commercial establishments inside the airport, “often with companies from outside Mallorca“.
He added that his party, Més, “sent a letter to to Aena and Ryanair to allow Mallorcan products bought outside the airport to be carried without restrictions”.
Only time will tell if Ryanair has learned its lesson and are willing to change its policies to make them fairer for passengers and local businesses.
