Massive blow to Brits as Ryanair to cut huge number of Spain flights

Ryanair has announced that it will reduce flights to and from Spain in its latest update. CEO Michael O'Leary has said the move has been taken after Spain's airport authority, AENA, decided to raise airport tariffs in the country. AENA is the air navigation manager in Spain. It has announced plans to raise airport tariffs by 6.5% in 2026, resulting in fees of €11.03 (£9.57) per passenger. This is an increase of 68c (59p).

Ryanair will discontinue a number of flights to Spain, including all operations in and out of Asturias in the north of the country. Ryanair has announced that it will reduce its Spain Summer 2026 operations by 1.2 million seats, representing a 10% decrease. This comes after the Irish airline cut more than 1 million seats to and from Spain for the Winter 025 season. Ryanair says that the move is a "direct result of the Spanish Govt's failure to stop Aena's monopoly fee increases, particularly at under-used Regional airports, and its failure to reverse Minister Bustinduy's illegal bag fines, despite promising to do so".

O'Leary said in a press conference in Madrid today: "AENA and its major shareholder, the Spanish Govt, continue to harm regional traffic growth, tourism and jobs in Spain through high airport fees and unjustified price increases. AENA should be lowering airport fees at underused Regional airports, but instead they plan to increase them by 7%, the highest fee increase for over a decade.

"The Spanish Government has failed to stimulate Regional tourism and jobs, as it continues to protect the Aena Monopoly's high fee operations. We regret that these fee increases make Regional Spanish airports uncompetitive, and this is why Ryanair is switching 1.2m more seats away from Regional airports in Spain in S2026, to some of Spain's bigger airports, but mainly to lower-cost competitor airports in Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Sweden, and Hungary."

He added: "Furthermore, despite Govt promises to reverse Minister Bustinduy's illegal bag fines, Prime Minister Sanchez has taken no action for 2 years now. Bustinduy's bag fines are clearly illegal, as they are in breach of EU Regulation on airline pricing freedom, and they are in breach of the ECJ Ruling the Vueling case, which established that airlines are free to charge for carry-on bags, as long as every passenger is allowed to bring a small bag "Maleta Gratis" for their personal items."

The bag fines O'Leary is talking about refer to Spain's 2024 move to fine budget airlines €179m (£149m) for "abusive practices" including charging for hand luggage. Ryanair received the heaviest fine of €108 million, which is around £90 million.

O'Leary added: "Ryanair remains one of Spain's biggest overseas investors, and we continue to invest heavily in Spain, with 2 new Maintenance Facilities in Madrid and Seville. We will shortly open our new Airline Training Centre in Madrid. While we wish to continue to grow air traffic and connectivity to Regional Spain, we are prevented from doing so by the AENA's Monopoly high airport fees and the failure of Prime Minister Sanchez and his Govt, to restrain this overcharging Airport Monopoly, which they own and control.

"We look forward to returning to Growth in Regional Spain, when Aena fees are reduced, making them competitive with lower-cost airports elsewhere in Morocco, Italy, Croatia, Hungary and other EU States, who are abolishing Aviation Taxes and lowering airport fees to grow their traffic and tourism industries."

AENA has been contacted by the Daily Express for comment. Ryanair has not detailed which flights will be cut as part of the move announced today.