The Consumer Rights Ministry announced on Monday that Spain had penalized vacation rental company Airbnb 64 million euros ($75 million) for advertising unlicensed tourist rental properties. The leftist government of Spain, as well as certain city councils and regional authorities, have been clamping down on vacation rentals that make use of websites like Booking.com and Airbnb, which many in Spain accuse of causing excessive tourism and raising housing costs by reducing the number of available homes for locals.
Airbnb did not immediately respond to a request for comment, after it removed 65,000 listings in July that the ministry claimed violated its regulations. A court appeal of the fine is possible. Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy told reporters that the fine is the second largest the government has levied for violating consumer rights and is equal to six times the profit Airbnb made from the illicit listings.
Ryanair was fined 108 million euros in 2024 for imposing additional costs on cabin luggage. Earlier this year, the European Commission declared that Spain had violated legislation by fining Ryanair and other low-cost carriers.
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