Ryanair has once again taken aim at Spain’s regional airports.
The Irish low-cost carrier announced it will eliminate 1.2 million seats for the summer 2026 season, continuing its sharp pullback from smaller hubs across the country.
CEO Michael O’Leary confirmed the cuts in a press conference on Wednesday, blaming ‘excessive’ airport fee hikes by Aena – Spain’s state-run airport operator – and what he called a lack of competitiveness in underused airports.
‘Instead of lowering fees at underutilized regional airports, Aena plans to raise them by 7% – the biggest increase in over a decade,’ O’Leary said.
Airports losing service
The most dramatic blow comes in Asturias, where Ryanair will pull out completely, scrapping its routes to Brussels, Düsseldorf, and Rome once current contracts expire in March 2026.
The decision follows a September wave of cuts targeting regional hubs.
Santiago de Compostela, for example, will lose its Ryanair base on October 26, 2025.
Vigo will also be cut off entirely from January 1, 2026, ending the only remaining route to London, after the Barcelona flight was dropped in March.
In Zaragoza, the airline is reducing capacity by 45%, eliminating routes to Palma, Paris, and Fez, while keeping connections to cities like London, Brussels, and Marrakech.
Santander is seeing a 38% cut, with routes to Milan, Rome, Paris, and Vienna removed. Meanwhile, Vitoria will lose 2% of its capacity, with flights to Alicante, Brussels, and Malaga still operating.
In the Canary Islands, the impact is substantial. Ryanair is cutting 10% of its total seats and canceling 36 routes to the mainland. The hardest hit is Tenerife North, where all flights will cease from October 26, including those to major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Sevilla.
Already gone: Jerez and Valladolid
Earlier this year, Ryanair also pulled out of Jerez and Valladolid airports entirely, with service halted in March 2025.
Ryanair says the airport tax hike planned by Aena is the key reason behind its pullout. The carrier has repeatedly criticised fee increases that, it claims, make smaller airports unprofitable to serve.
‘This is not a sustainable environment for regional air travel,’ O’Leary warned.
He’s urging Spanish authorities to reduce fees at underused airports, or risk losing more routes – and tourism – to other countries.
Read more Spain travel news at the Spanish Eye.
