RYANAIR officially stopped flying a dozen routes in Spain this weekend following a row over airport charges.
The Irish carrier also ceased all operations at two airports – Jerez and Valladolid – in a move previously branded ‘corporate blackmail’ by Spanish ministers.
The budget airline has been highly critical of Spain’s airport operator Aena, claiming airport taxes are too high and that there is a ‘lack of incentives’ for carriers to expand in the country.
While only around 20 jobs have been affected by the decision, it has resulted in 800,000 fewer plane seats in the Spanish market.
Direct flights from London Stansted to Jerez in Cadiz, plus Valladolid near Madrid, ceased on Saturday, March 29.
A search today for flights from London to Jerez on the first weekend in May showed extortionate prices, with no direct routes available.
Most options started at €521, while the quickest route was an eye-watering €934. There was just one offer of €374.
It comes as other routes have also been impacted from today. In Santiago de Compostela, the airline will withdraw one of its base aircraft, which will affect the city’s connectivity with other destinations.
Vigo will see a 61% reduction in Ryanair traffic, while Santiago will see a 28% drop.
Zaragoza, Asturias, and Santander will also experience drops of 20%, 11%, and 5%, respectively. In total, the company’s operations in Spain will fall by 18% during the upcoming summer season.
It will also cease other routes, including between Vigo and Barcelona, flights to Vienna and Lisbon from Zaragoza, the London flight from Asturias, and Santander to Alicante.
Speaking in January, Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson said Spanish regional airports are less competitive than their European counterparts.
He said the company would shift its focus to other countries, including Sweden, Croatia, Hungary, and Morocco.
‘We are not seeking special treatment, just equal conditions for all operators,’ he said.
The row began when Spain approved an increase in airport charges for airlines in 2024.
Ryanair founder Michael O’Leary butted heads with Spanish ministers as he warned he would cut services drastically if conditions were not improved.
A tit for tat ensued, with Ryanair being accused of ‘threats, half-truths and lies’ by Aena president Maurici Lucena.
Ryanair founder Michael O’Leary then lashed out after the Spanish government fined his company €107.8m for ‘abusive’ hand luggage policies.
He branded consumer rights minister Pablo Bustinduy a ‘crazy communist minister’ who punished airlines that ‘have no choice but to restrict carry-on bags’.
Bustinduy stood firm, however, saying: ‘No pressure, no blackmail and no insult will stop me… however powerful they may be.’
