European travellers face a big shift as Ryanair seat cuts to Spain this winter will reduce affordable options to one of the continent’s most popular holiday destinations.
Ryanair announced it will remove one million seats for the 2025-2026 winter season, cutting deep into connections between Spain and other European countries. For travellers already coping with the cost-of-living crisis, this move could reshape how affordable it is to reach Spain in the coming months.
Why is Ryanair reducing seats to Spain?
The airline has blamed uncompetitive airport fees set by AENA, Spain’s state-controlled airport operator. Ryanair says these charges make it harder to operate profitably at regional airports.
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AENA confirmed it plans to raise airline fees by 6.6 percent from 2026, which will be the highest increase in over a decade. This comes even as AENA reported record profits in 2025. Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson criticized the decision, stating that the move shows AENA is prioritizing profits from major airports like Madrid and Barcelona, while leaving regional airports behind.
As a result, Ryanair has decided to cut one million seats for the 2025 winter schedule and predicts an annual loss of two million seats overall. Much of this capacity will be shifted to airports outside Spain, including Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Sweden and Hungary.
Which airports in Spain will be hit the hardest?
Several regional airports will face major cuts. Ryanair has already confirmed:
- Its two-aircraft base in Santiago will be shut down
- All flights to Tenerife North will stop this winter
- Services to Vigo will end from January 2026
- Valladolid airport base, closed since winter 2024, will remain shut
- Jerez airport base will remain closed through winter 2025
Other reductions include:
- Santiago Airport: 38 percent cut
- Zaragoza Airport: 45 percent cut
- Asturias Airport: 16 percent cut
- Vitoria Airport: 2 percent cut
On top of this, 36 connections between regional Spain and the Canary Islands will be scrapped.
Despite these reductions, Ryanair says it will continue expanding operations at Madrid and Barcelona, Spain’s busiest airports.
Ryanair seat cuts to Spain and the impact on travellers
For many travellers across Europe, Spain is a first choice for holidays. In July 2025, the country welcomed 11 million international visitors, marking the busiest month in its tourism history.
The reduction in flight availability means that low-cost tickets will likely become harder to find. Travellers may face higher fares, fewer direct routes and longer stopovers. This will especially affect visitors heading to regional Spain and the Canary Islands, where budget flights often keep tourism flowing.
Ryanair has warned that the cuts will reduce investment, tourism and jobs in Spain’s smaller regions. Currently, the airline claims it contributes around 28 billion euros to Spain’s GDP. With routes being cut, some local economies could see fewer visitors during the winter season.
What European travellers should expect
Tourists planning winter holidays in Spain should prepare for:
- Higher ticket prices, especially during peak holiday weeks
- Fewer connections to regional airports
- Increased competition for remaining low-cost flights
- Potential need to reroute through other countries
The timing is difficult for travellers already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. While Spain will remain a top destination, reaching it affordably will likely become more challenging.
