mallorca
Political issue about pastries in the luggage: Balearic government convenes meetings with Ryanair
A Ryanair machine is at Palma de Mallorca Airport
© Augst / Eibner-Pressefoto / Picture Alliance
Two tourists on Mallorca should pay an additional 45 euros each for taking pastries in their hand luggage on a Ryanair plane. Now the government of the Balearic Islands has intervened and called a meeting with the airline.
According to a report by “The Guardian”, two tourists were asked to pay because they had ensaïmadas, traditional spiral-shaped fried pastries from Mallorca, in their hand luggage.
Accordingly, they were asked to pay 45 euros each at Palma de Mallorca Airport for taking the Ensaïmada with them, as it allegedly exceeded the hand luggage limit. In the end, the passengers decided not to take the pastries with them and left the goods on site.
The Balearic government then called for an urgent meeting with the airline Ryanair and the local associations of confectioners in Mallorca. Iago Negueruela, the Balearic Islands’ tourism minister, said the meeting was convened “to defend local products and avoid any kind of discrimination”. He hopes that the meeting will take place later this week and that the problem will be solved soon, the British daily quoted him as saying on Monday.
Mallorca pastries: “Just a problem with Ryanair”
Pep Magraner, President of the Association of Balearic Confectioners, pointed out that passengers can take on board ensaïmadas bought in the airport’s duty-free shop. This is discrimination against other sellers, i.e. the bakeries outside the airport.
Magraner continued: “All other airlines allow passengers to take two ensaïmadas on board.” It was “just a problem with Ryanair”. The Guardian asked the airline for a statement. What she says about the allegations is so far unclear.
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But it is not the first time that there has been trouble with hand luggage regulations in Mallorca. Last year, the consumer protection authority of the Balearic Islands filed lawsuits against Easyjet, Eurowings and Volotea and demanded fines of 20,000 euros because the airlines charge high fees for hand luggage. The consumer association Facua has made similar allegations against the Spanish low-cost airline Vueling and Ryanair. The cases are currently being examined by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs in Madrid.
Sources: The Guardians