MADRID — Travelers planning a Spanish getaway next year may find fewer low-cost options on offer, as Ryanair escalates its feud with Spain’s state-controlled airport operator, Aena. The Irish budget giant says it could withdraw another one million seats for summer 2025 unless Aena reverses a planned 6.5% increase in airport charges. Madrid, already reeling from earlier capacity cuts, now faces a standoff with potential ripple effects on regional airports, tour operators, and, ultimately, holidaymakers’ wallets.
Background: the dispute over higher airport fees
Ryanair’s chief executive, Michael O’Leary, has long argued that rising airport costs undermine the ultra-low-fare model that made his airline Europe’s largest. After an annual shareholder meeting in Dublin, he warned that the carrier will “probably announce another one million seats coming out next summer,” O’Leary said after the airline’s annual meeting. The latest threat follows the removal of two million seats spanning the past peak season and the coming winter schedule. Those earlier reductions were Ryanair’s immediate response to Aena’s decision to raise per-passenger charges by 6.5%. Aena, majority owned by the Spanish government and also operator of London Luton, counters that the change equates to just €0.68 per traveller.
A monopoly in Aena’s hands?
Ryanair insists that charging more at Spain’s 46 airports will dampen tourist demand, especially in cost-sensitive regions where low fares drive year-round traffic. “It is mad you have a country the size of Spain with one big monopoly,” O’Leary said after the meeting. Spain’s transport ministry rejects that portrayal, applauding Aena’s pricing strategy and calling the airline’s seat cuts “blackmail,” according to local media reports. Maurici Lucena, Aena’s chairman, accused the carrier of using “extortion” tactics, pointing out that Ryanair continues to file applications for new slots even while slashing others. “Impertinent,” Lucena said during a public appearance in Barcelona. Lucena’s remark adds fuel to a debate about how much leverage large low-cost carriers should wield over national infrastructure.
Routes at risk: where travelers could lose flights
The first wave of cancellations already hit five regional airports: Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, Valladolid, Jerez and Tenerife North. Half a million of those lost seats have been reassigned to Málaga and Palma de Mallorca, both favored by sun-seekers arriving from Northern Europe. Remaining capacity has migrated across the Mediterranean to Italy, where charges are currently more favorable to Ryanair’s bottom line. Should the airline follow through on a further one-million-seat reduction, industry analysts predict it will target medium-sized airports where Ryanair lacks exclusive competitive advantages. Candidates include Asturias, Santander and Reus, though the airline has not yet published a final list. For travelers, the direct consequence would be fewer nonstop options, potentially longer travel times, and higher fares as remaining airlines find themselves under less pricing pressure.
Spain’s tourism machine under strain
Tourism represents roughly 12% of Spain’s gross domestic product. Ryanair alone accounted for 18% of the airline’s global revenue in Spain last year, making the country its second-largest market after Italy. A sudden capacity squeeze threatens to pinch inbound visitor numbers just as the sector seeks post-pandemic stability. Pablo Bustinduy, Spain’s consumer affairs minister, has voiced concern about Ryanair’s influence. He also criticized the European Commission for agreeing to meet O’Leary in Brussels, describing the conversation as “unwarranted prominence for corporate interests,” Bustinduy said in a prepared statement.
What travelers need to know right now
1. Winter schedules are already finalized. Ryanair has pulled flights from the five regional airports listed above. 2. Summer 2025 remains fluid. The additional million-seat cut is not yet official, but travelers eyeing niche Spanish airports should monitor booking engines for sudden schedule changes. 3. Alternative carriers are stepping in. Vueling, part of IAG, has proposed adding 1.5 million seats across Spanish routes to capitalize on demand vacated by Ryanair. 4. Flexibility pays. Booking accommodations with free cancellation or selecting fares that allow date changes can mitigate the risk of disrupted itineraries.
How fee hikes translate into ticket prices
For context, Aena’s €0.68 per-passenger rise might seem negligible. Yet budget fares can run as low as €9.99 on Ryanair’s flash sales; adding even one euro can materially shrink the airline’s margin. Ryanair typically passes higher costs on to the lowest-yielding routes first, which explains why smaller airports — where ancillary revenue from parking and duty-free is lower — face the deepest cuts.
Airport charges across Europe
• Spain: plus 6.5% for 2025, or €0.68 per head • Italy: no increase announced for 2025 • Portugal: recent 2% hike, already absorbed by carriers • United Kingdom: Heathrow raised fees by 4% in 2024, but Luton (run by Aena) kept them flat
Potential winners: Italy and the Balearics
With spare aircraft capacity, Ryanair is redeploying planes to airports perceived as cost-efficient. Half a million seats have already shifted to Málaga and Palma de Mallorca, and more could follow to Bari, Bologna and Trieste. Travelers in Central Europe seeking beach escapes might discover new nonstop bargains to Italy’s Adriatic coastline, even as Spanish options thin out.
Tips for Travelers
- Book early, watch alerts. Ryanair often freezes route cancellations at least three months before travel, but fare calendars can change weekly in the current dispute.
- Consider hub alternatives. If your preferred regional field loses service, price-check connections via Madrid, Barcelona or Palma, where competition remains fierce.
- Check insurance fine print. Some policies cover “airline schedule change” only when the carrier cancels the flight outright, not when the passenger elects to switch.
- Track Europe-wide sales. Increased capacity in Italy could translate into promotional fares that offset Spain’s reduced inventory.
FAQ
Will my existing Ryanair booking be honored?
Tickets already confirmed for winter 2024–25 should operate as scheduled. If your flight is axed, EU261 rules apply, entitling you to re-routing or a refund.
When will the airline announce further cuts?
O’Leary said he will return to Madrid within two weeks to finalize the decision. Any changes would likely appear in Ryanair’s timetable shortly afterward.
Could other airlines fill the gap?
Yes. Vueling and easyJet historically add capacity when rivals retreat. Charter carriers such as TUI could also step up in peak season.
Is a compromise possible?
Industry observers note that Ryanair has used similar tactics in Italy and Portugal before ultimately negotiating discounts or marketing support. However, Spain’s government so far supports Aena’s position.
What about connecting passengers through London Luton?
Aena also controls Luton, but its fee structure differs. Ryanair has not threatened capacity at that airport.
Outlook
Ryanair’s brinkmanship has precedent: the carrier routinely flexes its fleet to airports offering incentives or lower charges. Yet Spain’s robust tourism appetite gives Aena confidence that lost Ryanair seats will be absorbed by competitors or higher-yielding carriers. The coming fortnight — when O’Leary returns to Madrid — will reveal whether travelers face a sharp reduction in Spain’s low-fare map or a last-minute compromise. Either way, savvy holidaymakers should keep an eye on booking notifications, compare alternative airports, and remain flexible with dates. In the shifting sands of Europe’s ultra-low-cost landscape, the best deal can appear — or disappear — with little notice.
