Ryanair Cuts Spain Flights, Competitors Rush to Fill the Gap

Ryanair has announced plans to reduce its Spanish network by 16 percent this upcoming winter. Starting January 2026, it will shut down its Santiago base and suspend flights to Vigo and Tenerife Norte.

The decision results from Ryanair’s dispute with Aena, the state-owned Spanish airport operator, which approved a 6.5 percent increase in airport fees starting March 2026.

Ryanair argues that higher fees put Spanish airports at a disadvantage compared to Portugal and Italy, threatening the viability of its routes.

Earlier this month, Ryanair announced reductions in its flights to Spain, cutting one million seats. Now, it warns the number might reach three million over the next year if the airport fee hikes proceed as planned.

This move has created opportunities for other carriers to strengthen their presence on Spanish routes.

Vueling, part of the International Airlines Group (IAG), is expanding seats to Spain by nearly 1.5 million this winter, including a 15 percent seat increase from Santiago and 11 percent from Tenerife Norte. The airline is adding flights to Barcelona, Mallorca, Málaga, Valencia, and Alicante, among others.

Iberia Express, Binter, Volotea, and Wizz Air are also expanding, with Wizz Air announcing 40 new routes from Spain by March 2026.

Photo by Marty Sakin on Unsplash