Ryanair is cutting 1 million seats from its winter 2025 schedule in Spain, citing increased airport charges by operator Aena as the primary reason. The Irish low-cost carrier will reduce capacity by 41% at regional airports, equivalent to 600,000 seats, and by 10% in the Canary Islands, accounting for 400,000 seats. The airline is also canceling 36 direct connections with regional Spanish airports and the Canary Islands.
The cuts were announced by Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson at a press conference in Madrid. The airline will suspend all flights to Vigo from January 1, 2026, and to Tenerife North at the start of the winter season. This follows earlier withdrawals from Valladolid and Jerez airports, which will also remain closed for the upcoming winter.
Capacity Reductions and Airport Withdrawals
In addition to exiting Tenerife North, Ryanair will reduce seat capacity at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote. It will also shut down its two-aircraft base in Santiago de Compostela, resulting in an 80% reduction in seat capacity and the loss of $200 million in investment. Four other regional airports will see cuts: Zaragoza (down 45%), Santander (down 38%), Asturias (down 16%), and Vitoria (down 2%).
“We have 300 new aircraft to allocate to competitive airports, and we’re taking them to other countries, such as Morocco and Italy,” said Eddie Wilson, CEO. He added that the airline is responding to what it views as Spain’s “anti-tourism policy.”
Dispute with Aena Over Fees
The cuts follow Aena’s decision to raise airport charges by 6.5% in 2026, increasing the average fee to €11.03 per passenger. Ryanair has described the increase as “unjustifiable” and warned of its consequences for regional airports and tourism in Spain. According to the airline, Aena currently concentrates 85% of its traffic in 10 out of its 46 airports and has not invested adequately in smaller facilities.
Ryanair has accused Aena of mismanaging airport capacity, noting that some airports are operating at nearly 70% vacancy. “That figure could rise to 80% with the elimination of Ryanair routes,” said Wilson. The carrier has emphasized its willingness to move aircraft to other countries offering more competitive fee structures.
Wider Impact on Spanish Tourism
Earlier this year, Ryanair reduced its summer capacity by 800,000 seats, citing similar concerns. Combined with the winter cuts, the airline will have eliminated nearly 2 million seats from its Spanish operations in 2025. The impact has already been felt at several airports, with reduced traffic levels observed since April.
Ryanair continues to expand in markets such as Italy and Morocco, where airport fees are more favorable. The company maintains that Aena’s policies are undermining Spain’s regional air connectivity and threatening jobs and economic activity tied to tourism.
