Vueling, Iberia Express and Binter are expanding their operations in Spain to absorb capacity left vacant by Ryanair, which has cut nearly 2 million seats and warned of further reductions. Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary recently signaled another 1 million seats may be withdrawn next summer if airport operator Aena proceeds with planned fee increases.
By contrast, Spanish and regional carriers are moving to secure market share. According to announcements made this week, Vueling, Iberia Express and Binter together have already added around 434,000 seats for the coming autumn-winter season. Volotea and Wizz Air have also expressed interest in expanding their Spanish operations, with Wizz Air planning to open 40 new routes from Spain by March 2026.
Ryanair Capacity Cuts
Ryanair has reduced capacity in Spain by 16% for the winter season and confirmed the closure of its base in Santiago de Compostela. The airline will also suspend flights to Vigo and Tenerife Norte starting January 1. These moves come after 800,000 seats were removed in the summer schedule, bringing recent cuts close to 2 million seats.
The carrier has threatened to cut up to 2.8 million seats by next summer if Aena follows through on its plan to raise airport charges by 6.5% from 2026, equivalent to €0.68 per passenger. Spanish officials have rejected Ryanair’s demands, accusing the airline of pressuring the government through threats of reduced service.
Spanish Airlines Expand Operations
In response, Vueling and Iberia Express, both part of International Airlines Group (IAG), have scheduled 190,000 extra seats for the winter season. Much of the added capacity will be focused on the Canary Islands, where demand remains strong despite Ryanair’s planned reductions.
Binter, the Canary Islands-based carrier, has programmed approximately 240,000 extra seats, 100,000 of them in Tenerife Norte. This represents a 33% increase in capacity over last year, bringing Binter’s total winter offering to nearly 1 million seats between the islands, mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands and selected international destinations. New routes will include links to Sevilla and Badajoz, with reinforced services to Vigo, Valencia and Asturias.
Vueling has also increased its operations at Tenerife Norte, adding 89,000 seats to reach 900,000 in total for the winter. The schedule includes one extra daily frequency to Barcelona and Sevilla, three more weekly connections with Santiago, Málaga and Alicante, and two additional flights per week to Valencia. The airline will also raise capacity in Santiago de Compostela by 15%, adding 28 weekly frequencies and reintroducing flights to Alicante alongside new routes to Zürich, London-Heathrow and Paris.
Iberia Express and Other Carriers
Iberia Express announced an additional 30,000 seats for the Canary Islands between October and January, a 5% increase over last year. The expansion covers 116 more flights and 150 aircraft changes to larger models, with half of the extra capacity dedicated to Tenerife Norte.
Meanwhile, low-cost carriers Volotea and Wizz Air are exploring growth opportunities in Spain. Wizz Air confirmed plans to add 40 routes by March 2026, building its footprint in a market shaken by Ryanair’s retrenchment.
Government and Aena Response
Transport Minister Óscar Puente insisted that the government will not bow to Ryanair’s pressure. “A rey muerto, rey puesto,” Puente said on Tuesday, emphasizing that other airlines are already stepping in to fill the gaps left by Ryanair. He reiterated on Friday that the government would not yield to what it considers “blackmail.”
Aena President Maurici Lucena accused Ryanair of misrepresenting figures to justify its demands, stating the airline seeks higher profits “even if financed by taxpayers.” He noted that Spanish airports handled a record 33.32 million passengers in August, alongside 262,001 aircraft movements, up 3.1% year-on-year.
The developments underscore both the volatility of Spain’s aviation market and its resilience, as domestic carriers and other low-cost operators rush to maintain connectivity while Ryanair reduces capacity. The outcome of the dispute over airport tariffs will determine whether further cuts materialize in 2026.
