Ryanair Cuts Spain Flights by 18% Amid Rising Airport Fees
Ryanair Cuts Operations in Spain: What You Need to Know
Low-cost airline Ryanair has announced a significant 18% reduction in its operations in Spain for Summer 2025, resulting in the cancellation of 800,000 passenger seats and the discontinuation of 12 routes across seven regional airports. This decision marks a substantial shift in Ryanair’s strategy, driven primarily by mounting operational costs and what the airline describes as ineffective incentive plans from AENA, Spain’s airport management authority.
Reasons Behind Ryanair’s Decision to Reduce Operations
On January 16, 2025, Ryanair’s CEO, Eddie Wilson, stated that the airline’s cutbacks stem from excessive charges imposed by AENA, which oversees 63 airports, 48 of them located within Spain. According to Ryanair, these charges do not support the government’s growth policies for regional airports, leading to reduced operations at several key locations.
- Affected Airports:
- Jerez Airport (XRY)
- Valladolid Airport (VLL)
- Vigo–Peinador Airport (VGO)
- Santiago–RosalÃa de Castro Airport (SCQ)
- Zaragoza Airport (ZAZ)
- Asturias Airport (OVD)
- Santander Airport (SDR)
Ryanair will also retire one aircraft based in Santiago, further illustrating their shift in focus to more competitive European markets.
Criticism of AENA and Its Impact on Regional Airports
Ryanair has criticized AENA for seemingly prioritizing investments in airports outside Spain over supporting regional growth. Wilson emphasized that the lack of effective incentives has led Ryanair to consider relocating its aircraft to markets such as Italy, Sweden, Croatia, Hungary, and Morocco, where government incentives are more favorable.
In December 2024, the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC) confirmed that AENA’s fees for 2025 would remain unchanged from 2024, with the Maximum Adjusted Passenger Income set at €10.35 per passenger. While Wilson supports this decision, he argues that it does not mitigate the financial strain caused by previous fee hikes.
The Call for Action
Ryanair is urging the CNMC to reconsider AENA’s fee increases from 2024. The airline is advocating for a return to a five-year rate freeze and the introduction of incentive packages designed to attract airlines and boost regional connectivity, tourism, and employment.
Conclusion
As Ryanair reduces its operations in Spain, the airline’s challenges highlight broader issues within the Spanish aviation sector. Travelers and industry stakeholders alike will be keenly watching how these developments unfold in the coming months.
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