Ryanair is following through on its threat and will slash a million seats in Spain this winter.
The news comes after falling out with airport operator Aena over a planned 6.6% rise in fees for next year.
The budget airline confirmed it will shut its base in Santiago and cancel all flights to Vigo and Tenerife North. Its bases in Valladolid and Jerez will stay closed, while capacity will be reduced in Asturias, Santander, Zaragoza, and the Canary Islands.
Not all airports are losing out, though. Ryanair said Alicante and Málaga will see more flights, as they remain more profitable than other locations. In fact, operations at these two airports will actually expand.
CEO Eddie Wilson noted the airline has 300 planes on order and intends to “use them where they make the most sense.” Nearly 40% of Ryanair’s Spanish passengers travel via Alicante, so the airline plans to keep growing at larger, cost-competitive airports like Alicante and Málaga.
Aena hasn’t taken this quietly.
CEO Maurici Lucena slammed Ryanair’s approach, calling it “blackmail” and “hypocritical.” He criticised the airline for trying to strong-arm the government despite benefiting from a large market share. Lucena emphasised that Spanish airports need a cooperative relationship with airlines, not one dictated by threats.
Ryanair said it will reduce winter capacity by 41% at Spanish regional airports and 10% in the Canary Islands, a total of one million seats this winter (two million per year), blaming “excessive and uncompetitive fees” from Aena. The overall cut in Spain amounts to 16%.
Some reductions will affect connections from Alicante to other parts of Spain and the islands.
Wilson warned that these cuts will hit smaller airports hardest, reducing investment, tourism, and jobs, as some routes will no longer be profitable.
