(SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA (SPAIN)) Ryanair escalated its standoff with Spanish airport operator Aena, announcing capacity reductions of about 3 million seats across regional Spanish airports while urging the government to roll back what it calls “uncompetitive” fees. The Irish carrier says higher airport charges leave regional routes unworkable and will hurt local tourism. Aena rejects that claim, arguing Spain’s charges remain competitive, the fee rise is small, and other airlines can cover gaps left by Ryanair.
The cuts stretch across two travel seasons. For winter 2025-26, Ryanair plans to remove more than 1 million seats, close its Santiago de Compostela base, and pull out of several smaller markets. For summer 2026, the airline will cut an additional 1.2 million seats, equal to a 10% reduction in Spanish capacity, and it will suspend all flights to and from Asturias Airport. While regional airports lose service, Ryanair says it will shift aircraft to larger Spanish hubs such as Madrid, Barcelona, Palma de Mallorca, and Malaga, and to other countries including Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Sweden, and Hungary.
Fees at the center of the clash
At the heart of the dispute is Aena’s planned 7% fee increase by 2026, which Ryanair says is the steepest rise in more than a decade. The airline argues these higher costs, especially at smaller airports, break the economics of short-haul travel.
Ryanair points to Santiago de Compostela, where it says the operating cost per passenger is €11.38, versus its network average of €8.36—a 36.12% jump. In Ryanair’s view, Aena should lower charges at underused regional airports to stimulate growth rather than raise them.
Aena counters that the actual increase equals roughly €0.30 per passenger and says Spain’s airport charges are still among the most competitive in Europe. Executive Vice President Javier Marín says Spain uses “a solidarity system,” meaning larger airports help cover the cost of smaller ones to protect nationwide connectivity, even when some airports run below cost.
He also notes that “the rates of small airports are not the same as those of large airports,” pushing back on Ryanair’s claim that fees are uniform.
Ryanair’s growth pitch and market presence
- Ryanair says it offered two growth plans to Aena and the government that could have lifted annual traffic by 40% by 2030 to 77 million passengers, but claims these proposals were ignored.
- For summer 2025, the carrier held about 22% of capacity in Spain, flying from 25 Spanish airports and serving 758 routes.
- Analysis by VisaVerge.com finds Ryanair’s choices in Spain often hinge on airport pricing and incentive structures, which can swing route decisions quickly across seasons.
Regulatory and consumer-policy crosswinds
The confrontation is not only about money. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has also attacked what he calls “illegal bag fines” enforced by Spain’s Consumer Rights Ministry.
- In 2024, Spain fined Ryanair, easyJet, Norwegian, Vueling, and Volotea a combined €179 million for charging for cabin bags and related practices.
- On October 8, 2025, the European Commission sent Spain a letter of formal notice stating that these fines breach EU rules on airline pricing freedom under the EU’s air services framework.
- Spain has two months to reply. Consumer Minister Pablo Bustinduy accused Brussels of taking the airlines’ side over consumers.
Readers seeking the legal framework can review the EU’s air services rules on pricing and market access on the Commission’s site: European Commission – Air Services Regulation.
Who pays to keep regional routes alive?
Behind the policy fight lies a basic question: who pays to keep regional routes running?
- Aena’s position: its model spreads costs to keep small airports open, accepting that some run below cost for the public good.
- Ryanair’s view: rising charges push low-fare carriers to move planes to larger airports or other countries offering lower fees or better incentives.
That difference now shows up in seat maps, flight schedules, and family travel plans across Spain.
Human and local economic impacts
The human stakes are clear in Santiago de Compostela, where the base closure will move about 30 pilots, reshaping family routines and childcare. The pilots’ union representing Ryanair crews in Spain called for “serene, constructive negotiations” and warned against a “battle of egos” that leaves workers and travelers paying the price.
In Asturias, Ryanair held a 6.3% market share in summer 2025 and was the only operator to Dusseldorf, Brussels Charleroi, and Rome Fiumicino. With Ryanair’s exit, those direct links disappear unless another carrier steps in quickly — a difficult ask in a tight aircraft market.
For local hotels, tour operators, and seasonal workers, fewer seats usually mean fewer bookings. Regional city councils and tourism boards may need to:
- Court replacement carriers
- Seek tailored fee deals addressing seasonality
- Offer incentives to retain connectivity
Aena argues other airlines are already filling some of the routes Ryanair leaves behind. Still, replacing an airline with Ryanair’s scale, fare levels, and marketing power is rarely smooth. Budget travelers who rely on early-bird deals may find fewer options and higher prices.
Broader pattern and carve-outs
Ryanair’s network decisions reflect a broader European pattern:
- The airline announced a 40% cut in Tallinn for winter 2025-26 and no growth in Lithuania, blaming rising airport access costs.
- A bright spot: Ryanair says restrictions won’t apply to routes between Poland and Spain, keeping steady schedules to Barcelona, Madrid, and Alicante. This carve-out shows how Ryanair can quickly redirect planes and crews to markets where fees and demand align.
Potential compromises and next steps
If talks thaw, both sides have room to reach agreements:
- Aena could refine discounts tied to:
- New routes
- Off-peak flying
- Winter schedules that are harder to sustain at small airports
- Ryanair could commit aircraft and jobs under multi-year terms, giving airports and local economies more certainty.
O’Leary says the airline “looks forward to returning to growth” in regional Spain once fees fall. Aena insists its pricing will keep Spain connected while funding safe, modern airports.
Immediate actions for affected stakeholders
- Travelers: check bookings early, watch for reroutes, and consider insurance with trip-change coverage.
- Workers: press employers for family support measures and relocation assistance.
- Local leaders: press Madrid for revised fee tools or targeted route support within EU rules.
Political and regulatory outlook
The next policy steps may come from Brussels as well as Madrid. The Commission’s pricing-freedom stance signals tighter guardrails around consumer fines that touch fare setting and optional services. Spain’s response could shape how airlines design bag policies and add-on fees across the EU.
Meanwhile, the core fight between Ryanair and Aena—how to balance fair charges, airport sustainability, and regional access—remains unresolved. The clock is ticking toward the winter and summer schedules where the capacity reductions take effect.
This Article in a Nutshell
Ryanair escalated a dispute with Spain’s airport operator Aena by announcing roughly 3 million seat reductions across regional Spanish airports. The cuts cover winter 2025-26 (over 1 million seats and closure of the Santiago de Compostela base) and summer 2026 (about 1.2 million seats, a 10% reduction in Spanish capacity, and suspension of Asturias flights). Ryanair blames Aena’s planned 7% fee increase and higher per-passenger costs at smaller airports, arguing these make short-haul routes unworkable. Aena counters the rise is roughly €0.30 per passenger and defends a solidarity system that keeps small airports connected. The dispute threatens local tourism, jobs—about 30 pilots affected in Santiago—and regional connectivity. Brussels has also intervened with a formal notice to Spain over earlier consumer fines tied to cabin-bag rules. Potential compromises include targeted discounts and multi-year commitments that could restore services if reached.
