Ryanair Slashes Spain Flights Amid Aena Fee Hike: What Travelers Need to Know

(MADRID) Ryanair will strip nearly one million seats from its Spain schedule for the coming winter, a move that will land hardest on regional airports rather than major hubs, after the airline’s clash with airport operator Aena over a planned 6.5% increase in airport charges. Announced in late August 2025, the cuts come as Aena prepares to lift the average fee to €11.03 per passenger by 2026, prompting Ryanair to shift planes to other European markets with lower costs.

The airline plans to unveil the full list of affected routes at a press conference in Madrid next week, in early September 2025. Company officials say the reductions will be concentrated at smaller regional airports, where traffic is thinner and cost hikes bite faster. Over the summer, Ryanair already trimmed capacity by 18% at several such airports, dropped 12 routes, and removed about 800,000 seats. The winter pullback extends that strategy.

Ryanair has fully withdrawn from Jerez and Valladolid, moved a based aircraft out of Santiago, and reduced flying at Vigo, Zaragoza, Asturias, and Santander. Aircraft and crews are being redeployed to countries like Italy and Sweden, where fees are seen as more competitive. That redeployment underscores the airline’s standard playbook: it moves capacity to markets that deliver the best return and steps away from airports it deems too expensive.

Eddie Wilson, Ryanair’s CEO, has attacked the fee increase as “unjustified and harmful,” arguing Aena is raising charges despite record traffic and profits. He also says Spain’s regional network is “almost 70% empty,” accusing public authorities of indifference as infrastructure sits under-used. “We’ll invest where we can get a return,” Wilson said, offering a blunt explanation for why the carrier is trimming Spain while adding seats elsewhere.

Upcoming announcement: what to expect next week

• The airline will publish the full roster of winter route cuts at a Madrid press conference in early September 2025.
• Reductions will focus on regional airports, following a summer of pullbacks that included:
  • 18% capacity cuts at several smaller fields
  • 12 route eliminations
  • about 800,000 seats removed
• With the winter schedule, total reductions will reach nearly one million seats, with further details expected next week.
• While Ryanair cuts, some competitors, including Volotea, have taken over select abandoned routes, though overall capacity will still drop.

Key takeaway: expect confirmation of specific route and seat cuts at the Madrid briefing; regional connectivity is likely to weaken through winter.

Impact on travelers and local economies

Ryanair cuts at regional airports could push travelers and spending toward larger hubs that retain denser schedules. Local airports in Galicia, Aragón, Asturias, Andalucía, and Cantabria face a hit to tourism receipts if fewer seats translate into fewer visitors.

Possible consequences:
– Higher fares due to reduced competition and capacity
– Fewer weekend city-break options and less flexible short-notice travel
– Strain on businesses that depend on frequent, low-cost links: hotels, restaurants, seasonal workers, and small exporters

Aviation analysts note this is a familiar pattern for low-cost carriers, which run on tight margins and react quickly to fee changes. Spain’s stance matters: some local leaders say the government should not yield to pressure tactics, while others warn that losing routes hurts regional development. As of late August 2025, neither Aena nor the Spanish government has signaled any plan to reverse the fee increase.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Ryanair’s redeployment to other European markets follows a broader cost-discipline approach across the low-cost sector: move planes fast when costs rise, and expand in jurisdictions that keep airport charges lean. The company’s decision to concentrate reductions outside the main hubs aims to limit revenue loss while maintaining network relevance in larger cities.

Passenger rights and practical steps

For passengers, the key point is that EU rules protect them when airlines cancel flights. If Ryanair cancels your trip after schedule finalization, the airline must offer a refund or re-routing, consistent with EU passenger rights.

For official guidance on your entitlements, see the European Commission’s page on air passenger rights: European Commission — Air Passenger Rights.

If you’re affected, here’s what to do:

1. After next week’s Madrid announcement, check Ryanair’s website for the updated winter schedule and route list.
2. If your flight is canceled, decide quickly whether you want a refund or re-routing. Keep records of all communications.
3. Look for alternatives — some routes might be picked up by carriers like Volotea, but total seats will likely remain lower than last winter.
4. If you need to travel on specific dates, consider booking through a larger hub that still has sufficient frequency.
5. Expect fewer schedule choices at smaller airports and plan accordingly, especially around holiday periods.

Practical planning tips

• Build a time buffer if you must connect to onward travel in Europe.
• Choose flexible accommodation rates until your flight status is confirmed.
• Purchase flights earlier if you must travel on specific dates to avoid last-minute fare spikes.
• Keep receipts if you incur costs due to cancellations; these documents may matter when you seek refunds or re-routing.

Longer-term concerns for communities

For communities losing service, the concern goes beyond winter. If reductions become long-term, regional airports could struggle to attract back capacity without incentives or a shift in fee policy. Businesses may recalibrate logistics to larger hubs, and students or seasonal workers who relied on cheap point-to-point options could face higher travel costs.

Ryanair’s argument is straightforward: it sees fee hikes as out of step with Aena’s financial performance. The airline says it will invest where conditions are favorable and warns that Spain’s smaller fields are already under-used. Opponents counter that letting one carrier dictate charges sets a problematic precedent and that public infrastructure should not be priced to suit a single business model.

What to watch next

• The winter schedule is being finalized; Ryanair’s press conference in early September 2025 should bring clarity on route-by-route impacts.
• Travelers with bookings to or from Jerez, Valladolid, Vigo, Zaragoza, Asturias, and Santander should pay close attention.
• Even where Ryanair remains, reduced frequencies may change day-of-week availability and return options.

The broader market question is how much of the gap rivals will fill. While some carriers can step in on select city pairs, the scale — nearly one million seats — means many regions may see thinner service. As winter approaches, the balance between cost control for airlines and connectivity for communities will be tested across Spain’s regional airports, with the next signal coming from that Madrid podium next week.