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Ryanair cuts seats at several Spanish regional airports but some are spared
Winter seat reductions hit several Spanish regional airports amid fees dispute
Ryanair, Spain’s largest low-cost airline, is scaling back nearly one million seats across regional airports this coming winter amid a bitter dispute with airport operator Aena over fee increases. The reductions will mainly affect secondary airports where Ryanair claims fees are uncompetitive.Several airports will see dramatic cuts or closures including Santiago de Compostela (where Ryanair is closing its base), Vigo (flights suspended from 1 January), Zaragoza, Santander, Asturias, Vitoria, and parts of the Canary Islands, notably Tenerife North. In southern Spain, flights will be stopped at Jerez, while Malaga, a major Andalusian airport, might see its Ryanair activity increase despite the broader reductions. Alicante, a key airport for the Valencian Community near Murcia, is similarly expected to maintain or grow service due to competitive fees.
Murcia’s Corvera Airport, where Ryanair accounts for almost half of all passenger traffic, has so far escaped the cuts. Serving nine routes to cities including Birmingham, Dublin, London Luton, London Stansted, Manchester, and Glasgow, Ryanair could even expand operations in Murcia this winter. The airline has yet to provide a detailed winter schedule for Corvera.
The conflict stems from Aena’s plan to raise airport charges by 68 cents per passenger in 2026. Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson has fired a volley of criticism at the fees, describing Spain’s regional airports as “70 per cent empty and uncompetitive.” He pointed to other countries, including Italy and Morocco, that are lowering charges to encourage growth and tourism.
Spanish officials have rejected Ryanair’s accusations. Minister of Industry and Tourism Jordi Hereu said the government “will not submit to arbitrary decisions,” while Aena’s president Maurici Lucena accused the airline of using “dishonesty” and “blackmail” to advance its own interests. Aena insists the fee hike is small and essential for funding airport investments.
While Ryanair trims capacity at smaller airports, it will continue to grow in major hubs including Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Alicante, and the Balearic Islands. This strategy focuses on more profitable markets.
Although these cuts risk reducing connectivity for some Spanish regions, the government assures that overall seat availability will rise and passengers will not be harmed.
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Image: Lucas Davies/Unsplash
