Lorraine Williamson
Ryanair will cease all flights to and from Valladolid and Jerez de la Frontera from Friday, 28 March, as part of a broader move to cut services at several regional Spanish airports. The airline has blamed “excessive charges” and “insufficient incentives” from airport operator Aena for its decision.
Ten staff at Valladolid Airport in Villanubla will lose their jobs. Ryanair had offered redeployment to Madrid, but none of the affected workers accepted the transfer. According to the union, the higher cost of living in the capital would reduce their real income by up to 30%.
At Jerez Airport, nine of the fourteen staff will be relocated to Seville, while five employees will be made redundant.
Regional airports under pressure
Ryanair’s exit from these two airports is part of a wider reduction in its Spanish operations. The airline is also cutting the number of flights from Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, Zaragoza, Asturias, and Santander.
While larger Spanish hubs remain busy, many regional airports have yet to recover fully from the COVID-19 pandemic. Passenger traffic in Valladolid, for example, remains below pre-pandemic levels.
Ryanair argues that high airport charges are making regional Spanish destinations less competitive. The airline warns that without changes, more air traffic could shift to other European countries.
Aena criticised for lack of action
Aena, which manages most Spanish airports, has been criticised by Ryanair for failing to offer competitive pricing structures. The airline claims this is discouraging growth and contributing to job losses.
Spain’s smaller airports are finding it difficult to compete with low-cost hubs in other EU countries. Ryanair says that without incentives or reduced charges, it will prioritise investment elsewhere.
Impact on local economies
The withdrawal of Ryanair flights is expected to hit local economies hard. Reduced connectivity could discourage tourism and business travel, particularly in less urbanised areas.
Ryanair has repeatedly warned that without improved conditions for airlines, Spain risks losing its position as a major low-cost aviation market. Regional airports are especially vulnerable to cutbacks, as airlines shift capacity to better-performing or more financially viable locations.
The move underscores ongoing tensions between carriers and airport operators over fees, and raises questions about how Spain plans to support air connectivity in underserved regions.
Also read: Ryanair´s departure leaves a significant gap in small Spanish airports