
Ryanair, Europe's largest budget airline, has announced significant cuts to its summer flight schedule in Spain, directly attributing the decision to what it describes as "excessive fees" charged by the state-controlled airport operator, Aena. These cuts will affect seven regional airports across Spain, leading to a reduction in capacity by 18% on 12 routes and the cancellation of approximately 800,000 passenger seats compared to the previous summer season. The airline stated that it will completely halt operations in the cities of Jerez and Valladolid for the summer of 2025. Additionally, Ryanair plans to reduce the number of flights to and from Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, Zaragoza, Santander, and the airport of Asturias. This strategic move by Ryanair signals its ongoing battle with Aena over airport charges, which the carrier claims are disproportionately high, especially at regional airports where growth incentives are lacking.
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Ryanair's CEO, Eddie Wilson, criticized Aena for not only imposing steep fees but also for not providing effective incentive programs that would encourage airline expansion into regional areas. The airline has long argued that Aena's charges undermine Spain's regional connectivity and tourism growth. Ryanair has decided to redeploy its aircraft to countries like Italy, Sweden, Croatia, Hungary, and Morocco, where it claims the governments are more supportive of airline growth through lower airport fees and better incentive packages. Spain, one of the world's leading tourist destinations, saw a record year in 2024 with over 309 million passengers passing through its airports. However, Ryanair's decision to cut flights could have a ripple effect on local economies, particularly in regions where these airports serve as vital connectivity hubs. The reduction in flights might lead to fewer tourist arrivals, potentially impacting local businesses that rely on tourism during the high season.
Aena, on the other hand, has defended its fee structure, stating that its average charge per passenger, approximately €10.35, is "one of the lowest in Europe." The airport operator also countered Ryanair's claims by pointing out that their summer flight programming for 2025 actually suggests an increase in seat availability over the previous year, implying that Ryanair's critique might be overstated. This clash between Ryanair and Aena isn't new. The budget airline has been vocal about airport fees in Spain for years, and despite a fee freeze during the COVID-19 pandemic and a 2025 fee increase block by Spain's competition watchdog, the tension persists. Ryanair has called upon the Spanish competition authority, CNMC, to force Aena to align its fees with the government's five-year freeze and to introduce effective incentives for regional airport growth.
The cuts announced by Ryanair underscore a broader issue within the aviation industry in Europe, where airport charges, infrastructure costs, and economic recovery post-COVID-19 are still significant points of contention. For travelers, these cuts might mean fewer options and potentially higher prices on certain routes due to reduced competition. For Ryanair, it's a calculated move to pressure Aena and the Spanish government into reconsidering their fee policies, which could, in turn, influence how other airlines operate in Spain. As the summer of 2025 approaches, the impact of these flight reductions will be closely watched by both the tourism industry and regional authorities in Spain. Whether this leads to a policy shift by Aena or prompts other airlines to adjust their operations remains to be seen, but it's clear that the debate over airport fees and airline capacity in Spain is far from over.