Ryanair, the largest airline working in Spain, is threatening to slash its quantity of flights to the nation after the Spanish authority determined to increase the value of utilizing its airports by 6.62%. The transfer was agreed by Aena’s Board of Directors on Tuesday as half of its revised pricing framework for the 2026 financial 12 months. The rise means travellers will fork out €0.68 more than the present fee.
In response, Ryanair, run by Irishman Michael O’Leary, has vowed to “drastically reduce the number of seats and routes” if Aena goes forward with its determination, which is due next 12 months. Under the plans, the value per passenger will increase €11.03 from 1 March 2026.
Ryanair said if it slashes its quantity of flights, regional Spanish airports will be most acutely impacted: “The effects of these cuts will be felt most acutely at regional airports, which are already almost 70% empty due to a failed tariff structure that wastes existing infrastructure designed to support local economies.
“Aena’s extreme tariff will increase will further undermine the business viability of many of these routes, as nicely as the competitiveness of Spanish regional airports in contrast to regional airports in Italy, Croatia, Albania, Sweden and Poland, where airports and areas are actively decreasing access prices to improve native connectivity, visitors growth, tourism and employment.”
Ryanair DAC CEO Eddie Wilson said: “Aena’s determination yesterday only confirms what Ryanair has been saying for a long time: Aena is only in extracting monopoly income from its largest airports at the expense of Spain’s areas and their native economies, which stay chronically uncared for.
“More than 85% of Spanish traffic is concentrated in just 10 airports (out of AENA’s 46 airports in Spain).”
Aena claims the adjustment is important to shield its financial viability, particularly since it would not obtain any support from Spain’s General State Budget.
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