Ryanair axes flights to Spain – affecting one million passengers.

Reduction of Ryanair flights to Spain

According to The Sun: The airline Ryanair is once again reducing the number of flights to and from regional airports in Spain.

The budget airline plans to cancel about a million seats this winter season, which will affect British travelers planning trips to this country.

Ryanair will announce details about the reduction of flights on September 3 in response to the fee increases introduced by Aena – the Spanish state-owned airline.

Aena charges airlines for using its airports and services such as terminals, runways, security, baggage handling, and aircraft.

The latest fee increase means that charges for airlines will rise by 6.5% next year.

These additional costs will partially fund the expansion of Aena's main airports in Madrid and Barcelona.

However, the fee increases will not please British tourists, as these costs are usually passed on to higher ticket prices.

Last month, El País noted that "the fees paid by airlines for using Aena airports will experience the largest increase in recent years in 2026."

The publication added that this cost increase means an additional charge of 68 cents (£0.59) per passenger, and new rates are planned to take effect from March 1, 2026.

The planned Ryanair cuts are the latest in a series of service reductions in the direction of Spain.

Flight cancellations and tariff issues

In January, the company canceled 800,000 seats on 12 routes, noting that it would affect domestic and international flights.

Aeropurtes such as Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, Zaragoza, Santander, and Asturias were affected by a reduction in operations.

At that time, the airline pointed to "excessive charges" at Spanish airports as the reason for the changes.

Ryanair DAC CEO Eddie Wilson noted: "Excessive airport charges from Aena and the lack of viable incentives for growth continue to harm regional airports in Spain, limiting their growth and leaving vast areas of the airports unused."

In April, the airline warned that it could make further cuts at Spanish airports next year if Aena does not lower its fees.

Aena's fees rose by 4.09% last year due to inflation.

At the beginning of August, Ryanair also canceled flights to three destinations in France due to the "astronomical" increase in the aviation tax from the French government.

The statement from Ryanair reads: "In response to this government tax, Ryanair will suspend operations to Bergerac, Brive, and Strasbourg, as well as reduce capacity at several other French airports."

The airline currently operates two flights a week to Brive from London Stansted, but they will be completely canceled after October 24.

The decision to cancel flights from Bergerac could threaten the future of the airport, as Ryanair is the main carrier for this airport.

At the beginning of March, the airline also canceled its route from London Stansted to Aalborg in Denmark.

Ryanair's flight reductions are caused by the fee increases implemented by the airport operator in Spain. In this way, the airline is responding to new market conditions that will undoubtedly impact passenger traffic in the region.