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Ryanair cuts Spain flights by 1M seats this winter

A Ryanair 737 sits on a Spanish regional ramp as winter schedule reductions shrink low-cost flights to Spain across regional airports.
by
6 min read

Ryanair will slash capacity to Spain by one million seats this winter, shifting aircraft to lower-cost markets after Spain's airport operator AENA signaled a 6.5 percent fee increase for 2026. The deepest cuts fall on regional airports on the peninsula, with further reductions across the Canary Islands. Ryanair will close or pause bases, pull entire routes, and consolidate flying at major hubs. The move lands as Spain posts record visitor numbers, raising the odds that fares rise on thinner routes, especially where low-cost flights to Spain face little competition.

Key Points

  • Why it matters: One million seats cut for winter 2025 threatens regional connectivity and could raise prices.
  • Travel impact: Base closures and route pulls at smaller airports, plus fewer low-cost flights to Spain.
  • What's next: Capacity shifts to Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Sweden, and Hungary while Spain debates AENA's plan.
  • Split of cuts: about 600,000 seats in regional Spain, 400,000 in the Canary Islands.
  • AENA plans a 6.5 percent fee rise from 2026, lifting the average to €11.03 per passenger, about $12.00 (USD).
  • Major hubs like Madrid and Barcelona are expected to retain, or even grow, service.

Snapshot

Ryanair blames AENA's planned 2026 airport-charge increase for making many regional routes uneconomic. The airline says it will trim winter capacity by roughly 10 percent in the Canary Islands and 41 percent across regional Spain, totaling one million seats. Bases at Santiago and Jerez will be closed for the season, Tenerife North and Vigo lose all flights on set dates, and dozens of links between regional Spain and the islands disappear. Spain, meanwhile, hit a July record of 11.0 million international visitors, so the supply squeeze could nudge fares higher, especially where alternatives are limited. Travelers should monitor bookings closely and consider nearby airports or rail where practical.

Background

AENA has proposed raising regulated airport charges by approximately 6.5 percent from March 2026 to fund capacity and infrastructure investments. Ryanair argues Spain's fees are already uncompetitive versus peers, and that the hike will hurt regional airports while AENA focuses on profits at larger hubs. The carrier had signaled additional Spain reductions after earlier seasonal trims. Political reaction has included criticism of both AENA and Ryanair, with the government pledging to enforce labor and consumer protections. At the same time, Spain's tourism engine is running hot, with the National Statistics Institute reporting a record 11.0 million international arrivals in July and record monthly spending, underscoring demand resilience even as costs rise.

Latest Developments

Bases close, routes end, and regional airports bear the brunt

Ryanair will shut its two-aircraft base at Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport (SCQ) for winter. All flights to Tenerife North-Ciudad de La Laguna Airport (TFN) end with the start of the season, and all flights to Vigo-Peinador Airport (VGO) cease on January 1, 2026. The Valladolid Airport (VLL) base, closed since winter 2024, remains shut, and Jerez Airport (XRY) will be closed for the entire winter 2025 season. Additional capacity cuts are planned at Zaragoza Airport (ZAZ), Asturias Airport (OVD), and Vitoria Airport (VIT). Ryanair also plans to drop 36 regional-to-Canaries connections. While secondary airports shrink, the airline indicates it will continue to emphasize larger hubs, including Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN).

AENA fee plan, profits, and political pushback

AENA's plan outlines a 6.5 percent increase to regulated airport charges from 2026, lifting the average to roughly €11.03 per departing passenger, about $12.00. The operator frames the rise as economically justified to fund investment needs, while Ryanair calls it excessive and misaligned with regional-airport growth. Spanish officials have pushed back on Ryanair's rhetoric, and public debate has centered on the balance between infrastructure funding and protecting regional connectivity. Regardless of politics, the immediate winter impact is clear, with Ryanair reallocating aircraft to markets it deems more cost-efficient.

What this means for low-cost flights to Spain

Expect tighter seat maps, especially on thinner regional routes and some Canary Islands links. Where Ryanair was the primary low-fare option, fewer flights can translate into higher prices and less schedule choice. Competitors may add capacity, but not always in the same city pairs. Consider checking adjacent gateways and rail links, and watch for flash sales as carriers rebalance. For context on Spain's shifting demand patterns, see September travel in Spain is now peak season. Also note Ryanair's broader distribution changes, including its recent OTA tie-up, covered here: Ryanair Booking.com partnership brings flights to OTAs.

Analysis

Ryanair's Spain pullback highlights how sensitive low-cost models are to airport-access pricing, turnaround efficiency, and incentives. On high-frequency, price-elastic regional routes, a modest fee rise can flip the math when demand is seasonal and ancillary uptake varies. The one-million-seat winter cut is significant, yet the outcome for travelers will vary by market. In larger catchments near Madrid or Barcelona, competitors and nearby airports can soften the blow. In smaller cities such as Vigo or Santiago, the loss of nonstop options reduces consumer surplus and can push travelers to longer trips via Madrid, Barcelona, or Porto. The Canary Islands feel a different pinch, since winter is peak for sun travel; island connectivity often depends on a handful of carriers, which raises fare-pressure risk if capacity falls faster than demand. Ryanair will redeploy aircraft to lower-cost fields in Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Sweden, and Hungary, keeping group growth intact while trimming Spain exposure. For Spain, the policy trade-off is real. Infrastructure needs funding, but if charges outpace perceived value, airlines move. Expect political scrutiny of AENA's plan and potential counter-offers from regions eager to retain links. Travelers should plan earlier, compare nearby gateways, and leverage OTA and airline alerts to catch capacity-driven price dips. The immediate winter will test how quickly rivals backfill cuts and whether demand resilience keeps fares elevated on routes losing low-cost flights to Spain.

Final Thoughts

For winter 2025, regional Spain and the Canary Islands will have fewer Ryanair options, and some routes will disappear entirely. Book earlier, compare airports, and mix rail where it saves time. If you are eyeing shoulder-season trips, Spain's demand remains strong, so flexible dates and nearby gateways will help. Keep alerts on for fare swings and watch whether competitors step in. As airport policies evolve and airlines chase efficiency, the story will continue to shift, but the headline for now is simple, and it matters for your wallet: Ryanair cuts Spain flights.

Sources