Ryanair has confirmed a sharp reduction of one million seats for Winter 2025–26 to Spain, citing a steep increase in airport charges imposed by Aena, the Spanish airport authority. This strategic pullback primarily impacts regional airports and destinations in the Canary Islands, signaling a tug of war between cost-cutting airline strategy and airport infrastructure funding.
The cuts translate to a 41% drop in capacity at regional airports – roughly 600,000 seats – and a 10% reduction in the Canary Islands – around 400,000 seats. As a result, Ryanair will cease operations at its Santiago de Compostela base and remove services to Tenerife North and Vigo. Bases at Valladolid and Jerez will remain closed for the entire winter, while airports such as Zaragoza, Santander, Asturias, and Vitoria will see capacity slashed by 45%, 38%, 16%, and 2%, respectively. At the heart of Ryanair’s argument is a 6.5% increase in airport fees slated by Aena for 2026, which it describes as uncompetitive and damaging to regional air connectivity.
A Clash of Strategy and Infrastructure
Ryanair’s CEO has vocally criticized Aena’s fee hike, framing it as unsupportive of regional tourism and an unfriendly business environment. For Ryanair, the cuts are a calculated move to protect margins and redirect operations toward more cost-effective markets like Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Sweden, and Hungary – where airport fees and incentives may offer better value.
Meanwhile, Aena has defended its position by asserting that the fee increases are modest, legally mandated, and crucial for financing major infrastructure projects across Madrid and Barcelona. The airport operator has also accused Ryanair of public manipulation and labeling its actions as coercive. Spanish authorities – both national and regional – have expressed concern over the cuts’ economic fallout, warning of negative effects on tourism, jobs, and connectivity, especially in areas reliant on Ryanair traffic.
Traveler Considerations, Seasonal Travel, and Broader Impact
For travelers eyeing trips to regional Spain, the implications are clear: fewer cheap flight options, likely higher fares, and reduced convenience. Bookings to smaller airports may require rerouting to larger hubs or using alternative carriers. This comes at a moment when Spain is already seeing shifts in travel pricing and demand patterns.
Recently, it was noted that shoulder season trips are no longer the bargain they once were, with rising accommodation costs making off-peak travel more expensive. Together with Ryanair’s capacity cuts, this trend could reshape how budget-conscious travelers plan their Spanish getaways in the coming months.
Despite the harsh winter outlook, Ryanair still intends to grow its global passenger numbers by at least 3% through March 2026, leveraging capacity in newer, more efficient markets. Whether this reallocation strengthens its bottom line or undermines public perception of airline reliability remains to be seen.
This isn’t the only airport sourcing tension Ryanair has faced – similar disputes in Portugal and Spain earlier in the year highlighted the growing dissonance between low-cost carriers and airport operators over fees. For travelers and advocates of regional tourism, the unfolding situation underscores how fragile connectivity can be when fees and policy collide with airline economics.