Ryanair cuts flights in Spain

Budget airline Ryanair slashes 800,000 seats, angering Spanish airports


Travellers flying from regional Spanish airports this summer might face fewer affordable options, as Ryanair, Europe’s leading low-cost carrier, has announced significant reductions in its Spanish operations. The airline plans to cut 800,000 seats across several regional airports, citing high fees imposed by the airport operator Aena. However, Aena has hit back, accusing Ryanair of using strong-arm tactics to pressure for fee reductions.

“This is not new behaviour for Ryanair,” says Aena president Maurici Lucena. “But this time, they’ve crossed a line in their dealings with Spain.”

Ryanair Flight cuts: Which spanish airports are losing routes?

The biggest impact will be felt at Jerez and Valladolid, where Ryanair will completely withdraw services. For Valladolid, this means only one remaining airline—Binter Canarias—operating a limited service to Gran Canaria. Jerez fares slightly better, with alternative carriers such as Vueling and Air Nostrum maintaining connections to major cities like Madrid and Barcelona.

Other airports affected include Vigo, which will lose 61% of its Ryanair capacity, as well as Santiago, where the airline will remove one of its based aircraft, leading to a 28% reduction in flights. Smaller reductions are planned for Asturias, Santander, and Zaragoza.

Eddie Wilson, Ryanair’s CEO, blamed the cuts on ‘excessive airport fees’, claiming Aena’s policies fail to encourage growth in regional markets.

Airport fee dispute: How it impacts Ryanair and Spanish airports

Aena has defended its pricing structure, pointing out that its passenger fees are frozen at €10.35, the same as in 2024, and among the lowest in Europe. It has also introduced incentives for underperforming airports, offering 100% fee discounts for additional passengers at smaller regional hubs.

Despite these measures, Ryanair maintains that the fees make Spanish regional airports less competitive. Aena, however, views the airline’s claims as part of a larger strategy to gain unfair concessions. “Ryanair’s ultimate goal is to use airports for free,” Aena stated, adding that this would jeopardise the financial stability of Spain’s airport network.

The real reasons behind Ryanair’s flight cuts in Spain

While Ryanair points to costs as the reason for scaling back, its actions tell a more nuanced story. The airline is expanding its operations at major Spanish airports, where it pays the full fee of €10.35 per passenger. In fact, despite the regional cuts, Ryanair’s total activity in Spain is set to grow by 5% in 2025.

Lucena dismissed Ryanair’s narrative, calling it a ‘pressure tactic’. “Their flights from regional airports are profitable and often full. This is about exerting influence, not costs,” he said.

For passengers, the dispute means fewer low-cost travel options from smaller airports and a tense stand-off that could shape future air travel in Spain

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