Lorraine Williamson
Ryanair has announced sweeping reductions across Spain, including the closure of its base in Santiago de Compostela and the suspension of all flights to Vigo and Tenerife Norte. The move marks one of the most significant retrenchments by the low-cost giant in recent years, with regional airports bearing the brunt.
From this winter, Santiago will lose its two permanently based aircraft — an investment worth around $200 million to Galicia’s economy. By January 2026, Vigo will disappear from Ryanair’s network, while Tenerife Norte will follow at the start of the 2025/26 winter season.
Airports in Asturias, Santander, Zaragoza and Vitoria will also face deep capacity cuts, ranging from 45% in Zaragoza to 16% in Asturias. In total, 36 direct routes will vanish from Spain’s regional map.
A million fewer seats this winter
According to Ryanair, the scale of the cuts amounts to a 41% reduction in available seats across Spanish regional airports and 10% across the Canary Islands. That equates to one million fewer seats this winter season alone and two million across a full year.
Chief executive Eddie Wilson warned that such a retreat carries knock-on effects. “It leads to less tourism, fewer jobs and a weaker investment climate for regional Spain,” he said while presenting the winter schedule.
Airport taxes at the centre of the dispute
The airline places the blame squarely on airport operator Aena, criticising what it calls “excessive and uncompetitive taxes.” Ryanair argues that the planned increases undermine Spain’s competitiveness compared with rival destinations.
Instead, the freed-up capacity will be shifted elsewhere. Routes equivalent to two million seats annually will be redeployed to countries such as Italy, Morocco, Croatia and Albania, where airport charges remain lower.
Pressure on Madrid to act
While Ryanair insists it is not abandoning Spain, the company has urged the government and the CNMC competition authority to intervene and extend the current freeze on airport fees. Without such a move, Wilson suggested, further reductions could follow, jeopardising Spain’s hard-won position as one of Europe’s leading tourism markets.
What this means for travellers
The airline’s retreat will be felt most by passengers in Galicia, northern Spain and the Canaries, where alternatives are limited. It also highlights how Spain’s regional connectivity remains vulnerable to shifts in airline strategy and cost pressures. Unless a compromise on taxes is reached, Spain risks losing out to Mediterranean neighbours keen to capture its market share.
Source: EuropaPress