Amid tensions with the main Spanish airport operator, Aena, Ryanair warns that the company is considering reducing flights to small and medium airports in the country in winter 2025 and early 2026. The suggestion for new cuts has come after Aena raised airline fees by 4,09% in 2024 to offset inflation, which has raised tension with the budget airline.
Eddie Wilson, Ryanair’s CEO, responded to the increase in Spanish media outlet El Economista, stating that “regional airports need to lower fees to stimulate growth; otherwise, the formulas will not work.”
Wilson also explained that the company will not invest in loss-making operations. Nevertheless, according to El Economista, Ryanair added 1,5 million seats to known airports such as Alicante, Madrid, and Malaga.
A message to Minister Bustinduy 🤡 – scrap illegal bag fines in Spain‼️
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) February 11, 2025
From Madrid today, Michael O'Leary called on @pbustinduy to withdraw his illegal €179M bag fines in Spain, which are contrary to both EU law and the precedent ruling of the European Court of Justice in the… pic.twitter.com/mpm4Zeyijl
In January 2025, the budget airline reported that they would cut flights at seven regional airports in Spain. Ryanair attributed the reduction to excessive fees implemented by the state-controlled airport operator. The air transport company also stated that it planned to slash its flights by 18%, meaning that 12 routes would be removed. Operations are expected to cease at the Jerez and Valladolid airports, and the flights to Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, Zaragoza, Santander, and Asturias will be reduced.
According to Ryanair, in 2021, Spanish officials decided to freeze airport fees during the COVID-19 crisis. Despite this, the airline added that Aena has consistently attempted to increase the levies annually, focusing on Spanish regional airports.
Customer Notice: Ryanair Group reduces flights to/from Spain from Monday 16 March to Thursday 19 March.
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) March 15, 2020
All affected customers will receive an email notification informing them of their options: pic.twitter.com/0R1Ib65tKb
“I would lie to make it very clear that on a day-to-day basis, we have good operational relations with Ryanair,” said Maurici Lucena, Aena’s president. “This decision from Ryanair, which is legitimate, is in line with the airline’s policy to maximise profits. They put their aircraft in the routes of airports where they get a higher economic return with higher ticket prices.”
Aena has previously told the Mirror that as of 1 March 2025, its aviation taxes will stay at a rate of €10.35 per passenger. In 2024, Aena proposed an increase of €0,05 per passenger for 2025, which was approved by its board in July 2025. However, the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC) rejected the proposal, highlighting the importance of maintaining stable fares.
ℹ️ Sobre el anuncio de Ryanair acerca de la operativa en los aeropuertos de España:
— Aena (@aena) January 16, 2025
👉 La tarifa media que las aerolíneas abonarán a Aena por los servicios aeroportuarios a partir del 1 de marzo de este año se mantendrá congelada en 10,35 € por pasajero y es una de las más… pic.twitter.com/5SrByJRn5c
It’s not just Spain that has faced flight cuts from Ryanair. In February 2025, the airline reported the removal of an airplane from Fiumicino Airport in Rome for the summer of 2025. Additionally, in March 2025, flights from Aalborg, Denmark, were also axed after the announcement of new aviation levies. The same has happened to France, where the low-cost carrier is expected to reduce flights by up to 5%.
