Holidaymakers planning summer trips to Spain are being urged to book sooner rather than later, as airlines warn ticket prices are likely to increase in the coming months.
The warning comes from the Airlines Association (ALA) and has now been echoed by Ryanair, the largest airline operating in Spain by number of flights.
Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson said rising fuel costs – driven by the Iran war – are already putting pressure on fares.
‘I’m not Harry Potter, but if people delay booking and airlines have less capacity due to cancellations, ticket prices will rise,’ he said.
He pointed to July, August and September as the key months, adding that while it is still early to make precise forecasts, ‘the feeling is that prices will go up.’
Fuel costs and limited capacity
Despite Ryanair hedging around 80% of its fuel needs for the next year, the remaining exposure to market prices is still significant enough to impact pricing.
At the same time, airline capacity is tightening. Ryanair plans to operate 1.2 million fewer seats this summer compared to 2025, partly due to rising airport charges imposed by Aena.
Wilson ruled out short-term flight cancellations but warned that capacity constraints at major airports could limit growth.
Spain better positioned than others
The airline noted that Spain is relatively well positioned compared to countries like the UK, which has reduced refining capacity and relies more heavily on fuel imports.
However, Wilson cautioned that uncertainty remains: ‘No one can guarantee anything at the moment.’
Airports reaching capacity
Ryanair has already added flights in Malaga and Alicante, but says expansion is hitting limits.
‘Airports like Malaga, Madrid and Barcelona are effectively full. There’s nowhere else to go,’ Wilson said.
This could lead to further seat cuts later in the summer, potentially affecting all airports and not just smaller regional ones.
Clash with Aena
Ryanair has also criticised rising airport fees and is threatening to cut more routes from regional airports if charges continue to increase.
The airline argues that many of Spain’s regional airports remain underused – operating at around 30% capacity – and warns that higher fees risk losing routes, tourists and jobs.
For passengers, the message is to expect higher prices and plan ahead.
