Europe’s largest low-cost carrier, Ryanair, has announced a significant reduction in seat availability on flights connecting Spain’s regional airports with other destinations. The company plans to cut nearly one million seats in response to an upcoming increase in airport fees set to take effect in 2026.
Ryanair’s management explains that this decision is due to the fee hike planned by operator Aena, which will lead to higher ticket prices and make regional airports less attractive to airlines. As a result, according to the airline, airport infrastructure will be used inefficiently, and passenger traffic will continue to decline.
Under the plans, fees for airlines at Spanish airports will rise by 6.5% and reach €11.03 per passenger by 2026. Ryanair considers these measures unjustified, noting that in other European countries such as Italy, Sweden, and Hungary, authorities are instead lowering access costs to airports to attract more flights and boost passenger numbers.
This year, Ryanair already reduced its summer program by 800,000 seats, and now similar measures will affect the winter season. In particular, the company has fully suspended flights from Jerez and Valladolid airports and has significantly decreased the number of flights from Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, Zaragoza, Asturias, and Santander. The reductions range from 5% to 61%, depending on the route.
According to Ryanair, regional airports in Spain are currently operating at less than a third of their capacity. The airline emphasizes that if even the lowest-cost carrier in Europe cannot operate efficiently under these conditions, it is necessary to review the pricing policy and approach to infrastructure management.
Ryanair notes that it is being forced to reallocate its aircraft and resources to countries with more attractive conditions for airlines. Among these destinations are Italy, Sweden, Croatia, Hungary, and Morocco. The company highlights that many European countries are interested in investing in aviation development, while Spain risks losing part of its passenger traffic and revenue due to increasing fees.
The issue of the future of regional airports and their role in the country’s transport system has once again come into the spotlight. Ryanair is calling on the Spanish authorities and Aena management to reconsider their pricing policies in order to maintain competitiveness and ensure affordable air travel for residents and visitors.
