MADRID — Travelers planning to hop between Spanish cities next year may find their favorite regional airports conspicuously absent from Ryanair’s timetable. The Dublin-based low-cost carrier has confirmed it will pull two million seats out of the Spanish market in 2025, including one million seats this winter, as part of a sweeping realignment of its fleet and route map. Madrid-bound flyers—and anyone connecting through smaller hubs across the country—should prepare for fewer nonstop options and potentially fuller aircraft on the remaining routes.
What’s driving the shake-up?
Ryanair says the trigger is a 6.5% hike in airport charges proposed by Aena, the state-run operator that manages more than 40 airports in Spain. The increase, scheduled for next year, would be the steepest in more than a decade. The airline argues that higher fees make many thin regional routes unprofitable, especially when rival airports across Europe are courting carriers with lower charges or outright discounts. In comments carried by The Olive Press, chief executive Eddie Wilson warned the higher fees could spell a “tourism disaster” for Spain. The low-cost giant insists that diverting aircraft to lower-cost airports in Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Albania, Hungary, and Sweden will generate better returns and safeguard its relentless focus on ultra-low fares.
Which airports will feel the cutbacks first?
Ryanair’s downsizing will hit Spain’s smaller gateways far harder than its marquee hubs in Madrid and Barcelona. The company will:
- Withdraw both of its based aircraft from Santiago de Compostela.
- Suspend all flights to Vigo starting in January [exact date not specified].
- End services at Tenerife North.
- Keep previously closed bases at Valladolid and Jerez offline through the winter.
- Trim operations at Zaragoza by 45%, Santander by 38%, Asturias by 16% and Vitoria by 2%.
The Canary Islands, a perennial favorite for sun-seekers, will lose 19 direct connections and 400,000 seats under the revised network plan.
The economic stakes for regional Spain
Beyond the inconvenience for travelers, local officials worry that the disappearing flights will siphon off tourism spending, foreign investment, and even residents who rely on affordable air links. Wilson argues that many regional routes will become “economically unviable,” leaving entire catchment areas with limited connectivity. At the heart of the dispute is how Spain balances the financial sustainability of its airports with the economic spillover of leisure traffic. Ryanair claims it offered to bolster the country’s network by basing 33 additional aircraft in Spain, investing €2.3 billion, and opening new bases in Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Menorca, and Santander—an expansion the airline says would have carried 87 million passengers and created 1,000 jobs. Those plans were contingent on Aena freezing its fees, a concession that has not materialized.
Union backlash
Spanish labor groups have not minced words about Ryanair’s strategy. UGT workers’ union secretary general Pepe Álvarez labeled the airline’s moves “permanent blackmail,” Álvarez said in the same report. He contends that other carriers will eventually step in to backfill the routes, mitigating the long-term impact on jobs and tourism. Ryanair responds that competitors have shown little appetite for thin regional sectors without a meaningful drop in charges.
What it means for your 2024-25 travel plans
Travelers mapping out trips for late 2024 or all of 2025 should:
- Double-check winter schedules. Many of the suspended routes disappear in January, so seats showing today may be gone tomorrow. Secure alternative flights or rail tickets early.
- Expect fuller planes on remaining Spanish routes. With one million seats cut this winter alone, load factors could rise, driving up last-minute prices.
- Consider hubs in neighboring countries. Ryanair is pivoting capacity to Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Albania, Hungary and Sweden. These nations could offer cheaper entry points into Europe if Spain fares spike.
- Look at Spanish rail. High-speed AVE trains link Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Málaga, Valencia and more. Schedules are frequent, and tickets bought in advance can rival budget-airline prices—without bag fees.
Tips for Travelers
- For the Canary Islands, check alternate airports—Gran Canaria (LPA) keeps more service than Tenerife North (TFN).
- If Vigo or Santiago were on your Galician itinerary, consider flying into Porto across the Portuguese border and renting a car.
- Monitor Ryanair’s mobile app: the carrier often adds flash fare sales to fill seats on replacement routes.
- Have a Plan B for onward connections; regional bus networks in Asturias, Cantabria and Aragón can bridge gaps between surviving airports and coastal towns.
Could negotiations still avert the cuts?
No formal talks are scheduled, but industry watchers note that Ryanair repeatedly uses capacity shifts as leverage during fee disputes. Aena maintains that its charges remain competitive within Europe and finance essential upgrades to terminals and runways. For now, neither side shows signs of budging. If a compromise emerges, the airline could restore at least part of its Spanish network heading into the crucial summer season. Until then, travelers should assume the reductions will stand.
How many total seats will Ryanair drop in Spain?
Two million seats in 2025, including one million during the coming winter timetable.
Which airports lose based aircraft entirely?
Santiago de Compostela will see both Ryanair aircraft depart, and Tenerife North will lose all service.
What is the size of the fee increase Ryanair is protesting?
A 6.5% rise in Aena airport charges is scheduled for next year.
Where is Ryanair redirecting its capacity?
Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Albania, Hungary, and Sweden.
Is any Spanish region unaffected?
Major hubs such as Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat keep the lion’s share of Ryanair’s Spanish capacity, but secondary airports in those regions will still feel reductions.
In the short term, travelers will face fewer options and potentially higher fares at Spain’s smaller airports. Those flexible with their gateways—especially visitors combining Spain with neighboring countries—can still build itineraries that capture the Iberian peninsula’s charm without paying a premium. Keep an eye on Ryanair’s network announcements and, where possible, lock in alternative transport early to stay ahead of the shifting seat map. — as Wilson told The Olive Press.
