This Major European Airline Is Cutting 1 Million Seats To Spain

(MADRID) Ryanair will cut nearly 1 million seats from its schedule to and within Spain this winter, a move the low-cost carrier links to a 6.5% rise in airport charges set by Aena that would lift average fees to €11.03 per passenger in 2026. The reductions, confirmed on August 27–28, 2025, will fall mainly on regional airports rather than the big-city hubs, with a full list of routes due at a Madrid press conference in early September, according to reports in Euro Weekly News, Sur in English, Spain English, and Simple Flying.

Ryanair has already trimmed service at smaller airports through the summer. The airline exited Jerez and Valladolid, moved a based aircraft out of Santiago, and reduced flying at Vigo, Zaragoza, Asturias, and Santander. Over the summer program, it cut capacity by about 18% at these smaller airports, dropped 12 routes, and removed around 800,000 seats, those outlets reported. The winter cuts will deepen the pullback, especially outside Madrid and Barcelona.

Regional cuts focus on smaller airports

Executives Eddie Wilson and Michael O’Leary argue that higher fees at Spain’s airports leave regional operations less viable and will push the company to redeploy aircraft to markets abroad where returns look stronger. They say regional terminals are “almost 70% empty” even as Aena posts strong profits and record passenger numbers, and call the fee increase “unjustified and harmful.” Ryanair’s public campaign also criticizes what it describes as government indifference to regional connectivity.

For travelers in Spain’s provinces, the effect will be felt in fewer nonstop choices and longer travel days. A student in Galicia who once flew from Santiago or Vigo may need to start or end a trip through Madrid. Families visiting relatives in Asturias or Cantabria could find fewer weekend options and higher fares, especially around holidays.

Ryanair warns the cuts will mean “fewer passengers, fewer jobs, fewer connections and fewer opportunities for tourism,” especially in “hollowed-out” areas that rely on affordable links to Spain’s big cities and to European destinations.

Industry data places the pullback in a wider market context. OAG figures show Spain set a record for summer 2025 capacity with roughly 118 million departing seats, driven largely by low-cost carriers. Ryanair’s presence remains substantial: about 19.4 million seats in Spain annually, reflecting roughly 40% growth since 2019 and nearly 20% of all capacity in the country this summer.

The strength at major hubs and on island routes contrasts with the shakier economics at some regional airports, where thinner demand and higher unit costs make each fee increase harder to absorb. As the winter schedule takes shape, Ryanair says it will focus on larger, higher-demand airports and markets that can support year-round flying. That means some communities will depend more on ground transport or connections, at least until costs change or demand rises.

Local tourism groups worry that fewer flights could translate into fewer weekend breaks and short stays, which often keep off-season hotels and restaurants afloat.

Economic and policy backdrop

Aena, which is 51% state-owned, plans to lift airport charges by 6.5% for 2026, taking average fees to €11.03 per passenger. The operator cites infrastructure needs and profitability as reasons for the rise.

Ryanair counters that fees are at their highest level in a decade despite Aena’s strong financial performance and record traffic, and insists that the increase will slow growth where it is needed most: in the regions.

The clash highlights a recurring policy question in Spain: should fees be reduced at underused airports to attract airlines, or should charges rise to fund upgrades and cover network-wide costs? Analysts note:

• Hubs like Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat can often absorb higher charges without losing airlines.
• Thinner routes at smaller airports are far more sensitive to price changes.
• When costs rise, low-cost carriers typically respond by raising fares, trimming frequency, or withdrawing service.

Ryanair’s recent and planned actions are clear:

1. Quiet removal of about 800,000 seats and 12 routes at regional airports during summer 2025.
2. Confirmation on August 27–28 of plans to cut nearly 1 million additional seats in the upcoming winter schedule.
3. Announcement of full details at an early-September Madrid press event.
4. Changes to take effect across winter 2025–2026.

The airline has already left Jerez and Valladolid, trimmed operations at Vigo, Zaragoza, Asturias, and Santander, and pulled a based jet from Santiago.

For local officials, the dispute over fees affects more than airfares. Many small cities count on steady air links to sustain tourism and to help residents reach jobs or specialized healthcare in larger centers. Hotel managers in northern Spain say a single weekend flight cancellation can ripple through bookings. City councils that spent years marketing new routes now face the prospect of lost demand and reduced investor interest.

The Spanish government has not publicly moved to halt the fee increase. Ryanair says that stance allows regional infrastructure to “deteriorate and be underused.” As the majority owner of Aena, Madrid must balance investment, profitability, and access. Policy watchers will monitor whether the Ministry of Transport revisits the tariff path or explores targeted relief for the hardest-hit airports. Official updates and airport policy notices are posted by the Ministry of Transport at https://www.mitma.gob.es.

What travelers in Spain should do this winter

Until the airline publishes the route-by-route list next week, most travelers will not know whether their usual flight is affected. Below are practical steps based on current information from Ryanair and Aena.

• Monitor Ryanair schedules
  • Watch schedule changes on https://www.ryanair.com and in the app; new timetables and cancellations typically appear there first.
• Check airport updates
  • Visit airport pages at https://www.aena.es, especially for regional terminals.
• Compare travel options
  • If your home airport loses a route, compare total trip time via Madrid or Barcelona with train and bus alternatives — sometimes these are faster on certain corridors.
• Use flexible planning
  • Consider flexible tickets or shifting the day of travel; winter schedules often vary by weekday and may favor Fridays and Sundays for leisure demand.
• Inbound visitor tips
  • For trips to rural areas, monitor connection times and the last flight of the day to avoid missed onward links.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, route cutbacks at regional airports often push passengers toward larger hubs and longer overland segments. That pattern matters for families trying to keep trip costs down in the off-season. VisaVerge.com says it will continue tracking how airline fee policies and schedule decisions affect communities that depend on affordable flying.

Timeline and likely next steps

• Ryanair’s early-September press conference in Madrid is expected to include the final list of winter suspensions and frequency reductions, with base changes where applicable.
• Winter schedules usually settle by late September, after airlines measure bookings and adjust capacity.
• If demand surprises on certain routes, some flights could return on a limited basis, but Ryanair has signaled that most growth investment will go to other European markets until Spain’s cost environment becomes more favorable.

For now, passengers should expect fewer nonstop choices from smaller Spanish airports this winter and plan accordingly. Those who can start from a major hub may still find a wide range of low-cost fares. Others will face trade-offs: leave earlier to catch a train, pay more for a connection, or choose different travel dates.

The details will decide the pain. When airlines publish the final winter timetables next week, travelers and local businesses will be able to see the map more clearly and adjust their plans.