Ryanair slashes routes over Spanish fees, shifts focus to cities
Ryanair is reducing flights to this country due to "excessive fees." Compared to the previous summer, the carrier will reduce capacity on 12 routes by 18% and cancel approximately 800,000 passenger seats.
Ryanair is eliminating connections with the cities of Jerez and Valladolid and will also reduce the number of flights to and from Vigo, Santiago de Compostela, Zaragoza, Santander, and Asturias airport.
Despite the cuts, the carrier announces an overall increase in air traffic in Spain by 2-3%.
The executives have a plan
Ryanair's decision may significantly impact local tourism and the economy. However, the airline plans to increase the number of flights from major Spanish cities and redirect some traffic to other countries. Ryanair's CEO, Eddie Wilson, explains that the cuts are a response to the "excessive fees" levied by the Spanish airport operator Aena.
Aena, which manages Spanish airports, has rejected Ryanair's accusations. In a statement, it emphasized that the average passenger charge of CAD 15.4 is one of the lowest in Europe. Spain recorded a record 94 million foreign tourists in 2024, and the country's tourism ministry expects further increases.
