Ryanair prepares another cut of almost a million seats in Spain

“We will be announcing substantial reductions in regional airport operations this winter in late August or early September.”

The CEO of the low-cost airline, Eddie Wilson, cautions that this news will be devastating and will persist until someone comes to their senses.

Ryanair is currently in the process of finalising the previously announced reductions to its operations in Spain for the winter season of 2025/2026. In response to the 6.5% increase in Aena fees, the largest in a decade, the airline’s CEO, Eddie Wilson, announced that it will eliminate “almost a million” seats at lower-traffic airports.

“We will likely announce substantial reductions at Spanish regional airports this winter in late August or early September,” he stated. Nevertheless, he does not exclude the possibility of entirely abandoning additional airports, as he did with Valladolid and Jerez.

The low-cost carrier maintains that Spanish regional terminals are “not competitive” with current fares and that their occupancy rate is approximately 70%. “If they were a hotel or factory, they would be shuttered. However, Aena is adamant about not learning about it, as they are currently focused on the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, Madrid, and Barcelona.”

Consequently, it cautions that “this news will be devastating and will persist until someone comes to their senses.” The company’s demands include the reversal of the 2024 fare increases and the implementation of reductions of up to 50% in regional airport fees to maintain traffic. Additionally, the company is demanding a 100% increase in 2025 and 2026, with incentives that will extend for seven years.

Ryanair suggests that the autonomous communities assume responsibility for the administration of the least profitable airports as an alternative. “The incentive system implemented by Aena has been unsuccessful.” He emphasises that the regions would perform significantly better, as they are the ones who desire connectivity and employment opportunities.

In conclusion, the forthcoming seat reduction would be in addition to the substantial reductions that the organisation implemented this summer. Preferente reported that it resulted in the eradication of 800,000 seats, an 18% decrease in capacity, and the closure of 12 routes.