Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost airline, recently announced drastic cuts to its Spanish network for the winter 2025-26 season. The airline blames “excessive” airport charges by Aena, Spain’s state-controlled airport operator, behind the decision. This will mean a reduction of 1 million seats from its winter schedule to Spain. This move poses a threat to regional connectivity and tourism in Spain, sparking a heated debate.
The Dispute with Aena
Aena, the Spanish airport operator, has approved a 6.62% increase in airport charges, equivalent to an additional €0.68 ($0.79) per passenger, which is set to take effect from March 2026. In response to this, Ryanair has announced a reduction of 1 million seats from its winter schedule to Spain. Aena sees the hike as a necessary step to fund infrastructure improvements at major airports like Madrid and Barcelona. However, Ryanair has strongly criticized the increase, arguing that it disproportionately affects regional airports and makes certain routes economically unviable.
This move has implications for the Spanish aviation market and raises questions about Ryanair's broader strategy regarding airport fees and competition.
Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair DAC, stated that the fee increase is "excessive and uncompetitive.” He also mentioned that Aena's focus on profits at major airports undermines the development of regional traffic.
Ryanair’s cuts include the regional airports of Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, Tenerife North, Valladolid, and Jerez, leading to a 16% reduction in traffic at regional locations and a 10% drop in the Canary Islands. These cuts effectively close Ryanair's base in Santiago and suspend services to Vigo and Tenerife North starting in January 2026.
In total, Ryanair’s decision impacts 36 routes, having a considerable impact across Spain's regional network.
Aena's Response
Aena has defended the fee increase, stating that it follows a legally mandated formula and is necessary to maintain and improve airport infrastructure. Aena's CEO, Maurici Lucena, accused Ryanair of "blackmail" and "dishonesty," suggesting that the airline is using the fee increase as a pretext to justify cuts and to pressure for financial concessions. Lucena emphasized that Aena's charges remain among the lowest in Europe and that regional airports already benefit from heavily subsidized fees.
As per Aena, the small per-passenger increase will not deter customers from booking flights and suggests that Ryanair’s decision may be influenced by a strategy to move its aircraft to airports where it can charge higher ticket prices, rather than being a direct result of the fee increase itself.
Impact on the Aviation Market
The reduction of 1 million seats by Ryanair is expected to have significant implications for the Spanish aviation market. The immediate consequence will be felt during the coming winter season, with passengers facing increased ticket prices on the remaining routes operated by Ryanair and other carriers. Other carriers, such as Vueling, are stepping in to fill the service gaps, adding about 1.5 million seats that include 578,000 from Santiago de Compostela and nearly 900,000 from Tenerife Norte. However, it will still mean reduced options on the remaining routes operated by Ryanair and other carriers.
With the reduction plan in place, Ryanair plans to reallocate its capacity to markets it considers to have greater growth potential, notably Morocco and Italy. The airline is significantly bolstering its Moroccan operations and making a significant investment at Turin Airport in Italy, transforming it into a major winter hub for the north of the country.
Ryanair has always deemed the increase in airport fees across Europe as anti-competitive and counterintuitive to the development of regional traffic. The airline has asked regulatory bodies to look into such monopolistic practices by the airline operators and devise a strategy to curb them.
This dispute with Aena is part of a broader pattern of tensions between Ryanair and airport operators across Europe. The airline has previously clashed with authorities in countries like Italy and Portugal over similar issues related to airport charges and subsidies.
Seasonal Strategy or Strategic Statement?
Ryanair’s decision to cut seats from its winter schedule to Spain highlights the ongoing tensions between low-cost carriers and airport operators over fee structures and regional development. The dispute with Aena highlights a broader industry concern: the long-term sustainability of regional air services.
As the situation develops, it will be important to monitor how other carriers respond and whether regulatory bodies take action to address the underlying issues.
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Some, like the travel journalist Simon Calder, feel that cuts are a part of normal seasonal adjustments rather than solely a protest over airport fees. Airlines routinely scale back winter schedules on routes to leisure destinations, particularly in southern Europe, when demand drops. Spain sees a natural dip in passenger numbers during the colder months, and some of the capacity reductions could reflect this predictable pattern rather than a direct response to Aena’s fee increase.
The relationship between Ryanair and Aena has always had some friction, with both parties clashing over the terms of airport fees and the future of air travel in Spain. But, analysts have suggested that Ryanair may be using the headline of an airport charge dispute to frame what might otherwise have been a routine schedule adjustment as a political statement. While Ryanair’s decision may be frustrating for travelers hoping to reach smaller regional airports, it’s unlikely to significantly affect those flying to major cities.
