February 16, 2025
Ryanair Cuts Spanish Flights Amid Row Over Airport Charges

Ryanair Cuts Spanish Flights Amid Row Over Airport Charges

Ryanair says that it will reduce summer traffic in Spain by around 18%, blaming Spain’s airport operator Aena for excessive airport charges and lack of incentives.
Front view of Ryanair 737 on tarmac.
Photo Credit: Ryanair

Ryanair has publicly criticized Aena, the Spanish airport operator, for its high fees and neglect of regional airports. This had led to reduced flight services in certain parts of the country.

While the low-cost airline plans to increase its presence at major Spanish hubs by 5%, it will simultaneously cut operations in regional areas by 18%.

Effectively, Ryanair will scale back its summer flights by approximately 800,000 seats. The carrier says that this decision stems directly from Aena’s pricing policies and “unjustifiable rate increases”.

Javier Bravo Muñoz (GFDL 1.2 or GFDL 1.2), via Wikimedia Commons

Ryanair Frustration with Aena


Ryanair argues that Aena’s fees are significantly higher than those at comparable airports in Italy and Poland, hindering the airline’s ability to operate profitably in these regions.

The airline cites the example of Valladolid, where airport taxes are substantially higher than in other parts of Europe. Ryanair now plans to cease its operations at Jerez and Valladolid. Other regional airports will see traffic cuts, including Vigo, Zaragoza, Asturias, and Santander. The airline will also relocate one aircraft from its base in Santiago.

Aena, for its part, maintains that its costs are amongst the lowest in Europe. However, Ryanair contends that Aena’s claims of competitive pricing are false. The airline emphasizes that it pays significantly more than the €2 per passenger fee that Aena often cites. This discrepancy, says Ryanair, highlights a pattern of misleading information from Aena regarding its pricing structure.

“Aena’s disregard for a 2021 government directive to freeze airport fees for five years has further exacerbated the issue,” said Ryanair in a statement.

“Despite this directive, Aena has consistently attempted to increase fees, including a recent 4% hike imposed in 2024. Only regulatory intervention has prevented further increases in 2025, but the current rates remain above the levels mandated in 2021.”

Montgomery, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Stagnant Growth in Spain


Ryanair’s expansion plans in Europe contrast sharply with its stagnant growth in Spain. While the airline invested heavily in other European markets in 2024, acquiring new aircraft and establishing new bases, it has not opened a new base in Spain since 2016. This stagnation, Ryanair argues, is directly attributable to Aena’s excessive fees.

The stark difference between Ryanair’s operations at Malaga Airport (8 million passengers annually) and the complete absence of flights at Granada Airport exemplifies the impact of Aena’s pricing. The significantly higher fees at Granada Airport effectively deter airlines from operating there, states Ryanair.

The airline contends that there is a broader issue: Aena’s lack of a comprehensive plan to support and develop Spain’s regional airports. Many of these airports operate at less than 50% capacity, hindering regional economic growth and tourism.

Ryanair has proposed a plan to increase passenger traffic in Spain by 40%, focusing primarily on regional airports, but this plan has been met with inaction from Aena.

Ryanair is now calling for a break from Aena’s monopoly, advocating for greater autonomy for regional governments in managing their local airports.

This decentralization, Ryanair believes, would empower regions to implement more effective and competitive airport management strategies, stimulating growth and benefiting local economies.

Speaking to The Independent, Aena stated that its average fee of €10.35 (£8.75) per passenger was “among the lowest in Europe.” Perhaps its a case of the pain in Spain falling mainly on Ryanair’s planes.

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