Ryanair is set to cut almost a million seats from Spain’s regional airports this winter – but the Balearic Islands, along with Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga and the Canaries, will see extra capacity.
Chief executive Eddie Wilson said the details of the cuts will be set out in Madrid next week. Medium and small airports will take the hit. The move follows a 6.5% rise in airport charges announced by Aena for 2026, pushing the cost per passenger to 11.03€ – the highest in a decade, Ryanair claims.
Wilson accused the Spanish government of “indifference” and branded Aena a “monopoly” hiking fees while other European countries cut costs to lure traffic. “We’ll invest where we see a return,” he said.
The losers will be what is often called “empty Spain”, where communities will lose low-cost connections. Ryanair plans to redeploy planes to Italy, Sweden, Croatia, Hungary and Morocco.
The carrier already pared back operations this summer, pulling routes from Vigo, Santiago, Zaragoza, Asturias and Santander, and quitting Jerez and Valladolid entirely.
By contrast, Ryanair says it will keep backing big hubs where demand is strong. Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, the Balearics and the Canaries will all benefit. Wilson urged Aena to make future expansion projects, including those in its DORA III plan, “efficient”. “They’re paid for with airline money, not Aena’s,” he said.
The airline also warned that without a rethink on charges, Spain risks losing its edge as a tourist destination to rivals offering cheaper access. Meanwhile, Ryanair group boss Michael O’Leary is pinning hopes on the courts overturning a €107m fine from Spain’s consumer ministry for abusive practices.