Ryanair to cut 800,000 seats this summer in Spain due to airport taxes
Ryanair has announced a significant reduction in its operational capacity in Spain for summer 2025, cutting 800,000 seats and closing 12 routes. According to the airline, this decision is attributed to the airport fees imposed by AENA and the ineffectiveness of its incentive plans, which hinder the growth of regional airports.
Drastic Reduction in Regional Airports
Ryanair said that despite the Spanish Government’s decree to freeze airport fees until 2026, AENA has continued annual increases, primarily affecting airports with lower traffic. This has led to complete closures in Jerez and Valladolid and significant reductions in other key airports:
- Vigo: -61%
- Santiago: -28%
- Zaragoza: -20%
- Asturias: -11%
- Santander: -5%
The total impact amounts to an 18% reduction in capacity at regional airports, which will have severe consequences for connectivity, tourism, and employment in these areas.
→ Aena Closes 2024 with Record Numbers in Passengers, Operations, and Air Cargo
A Policy Favoring Other Markets
According to Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair, the high fees and lack of incentives in Spain contrast sharply with the growth policies in other countries such as Italy, Sweden, and Croatia. These destinations offer more competitive conditions, incentivizing the use of underutilized infrastructure and attracting airlines that, like Ryanair, seek lower operational costs.
“A positive example is Castellón airport, which is not part of AENA and has experienced sustained growth thanks to competitive fees and efficient operations”, the airline said in the statement.
Ryanair has confirmed that it will retire a Santiago-based aircraft.
AENA’s Response
AENA has defended its position by stating that Spanish airport fees are among the lowest in Europe, with an average frozen rate of €10.35 per passenger. However, Ryanair argues that these fees are not competitive in regional airports, where the airline claims commercial incentives are insufficient to foster significant growth.
AENA also highlights that Ryanair’s operations in Spain grew by 8.7% in 2024 and that the total programming for 2025 will be higher than in the previous year. Additionally, AENA notes that the lowest fees offered at regional airports can drop to as little as €2 per passenger.
He regretted that Ryanair uses spurious arguments that do not correspond to the reality of airport tariffs in Spain, to confuse citizens and blatantly put pressure on national and regional public institutions.
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