Ryanair cuts summer flights in Spain in row over airport charges

Ryanair has announced that it is scaling back its flight services in Spain by around 800,000 seats this summer citing “excessive fees” from airports.

The budget carrier said on Thursday that it plans to reduce its traffic in the country by 18 per cent, which equates to around 12 routes after complaining of Spain’s airport operator Aena’s charges and lack of incentives for growth.

While the Spanish government decided to freeze airport charges for five years during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, Ryanair claims that Aena has attempted to increase charges every year despite this, especially at Spanish regional airports.

Due to this, the airline said it would cease operations at Jerez airport in southern Spain and Valladolid airport further north and remove one aircraft based in Santiago.

Ryanair is also planning to reduce its traffic by summer 2025 at five regional airports: Vigo by 61 per cent, Santiago at 28 per cent, Zaragoza at 20 per cent, Asturias at 11 per cent and Santander at five per cent.

It is unclear which on which routes Ryanair plans to reduce its traffic.

Ryanair said the loss was completely avoidable and would be “devastating” for regional connectivity, employment and tourism.

Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson said the airline increased its capacity in Spain to boost tourism and employment following the government’s commitment to recovery post-Covid.

“However, Aena persists with unjustified rate increases and refuses to implement effective incentive systems to support Spain’s regional growth, prioritising foreign investment in airports in the Caribbean, the UK and America”, he said.

Mr Wilson added that Ryanair has been “forced” to relocate aircraft and capacity to what he believes are more competitive markets, such as Italy, Sweden, Croatia, Hungary and Morocco.

In response, Aena told The Independent that its average fee of €10.35 (£8.75) per passenger was “among the lowest in Europe.”