Ryanair set to shrink in Spain for the first time ever with more winter cuts on the way
The Irish airline says it's growing everywhere but Spain and things could get worse if the Iran conflict continues to hit fuel prices
Ryanair has fired another shot at Spanish airport operator Aena, warning that 2027 will be the first year the airline actually shrinks in Spain rather than grows, with more cuts already lined up for next winter.
The Irish low-cost carrier has already slashed 1.8 million seats at Spanish regional airports over the last two seasons, with a further 1.2 million cut coming for summer 2026. CEO Eddie Wilson blamed Aena's rising fees directly, pointing out that regional airports across Spain are already running at just 30% capacity.
"Monopoly pricing leads to decisions like this," he said at a press conference on Monday April 27.
Things are set to get worse from 2027, when a new fee increase of 21% plus inflation kicks in and stays until 2031. Wilson confirmed that of the 300 new aircraft Ryanair is taking delivery of between 2027 and 2034, not one is destined for Spain.
"We are growing in Albania, Morocco, Hungary, the UK, Sweden and Italy. We don't want any money, we just want the fees to go down, but they won't even talk to us," he said.
According to Wilson, if Aena brought in competitive pricing at regional airports, Ryanair could grow by 40% in Spain, adding 33 aircraft, opening five new regional bases and carrying 77 million passengers a year by 2031.
"I will send planes to where fees are falling," he explained.
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is adding another layer of uncertainty. Ryanair has ruled out cancelling Spanish flights this summer, but Wilson made clear that if the situation continues to worsen, Spain's regional airports would be first in the firing line.
"Those countries that are not competitive will lose more traffic," he warned.
When it comes to the worrying topic of jet fuel, Ryanair is in a stronger position than most, having locked in 80% of its fuel costs for the year well below current market prices. Wilson predicted some smaller airlines won't be so lucky.
"If fuel prices continue to rise, it will affect many other airlines before Ryanair," he said, although he acknowledged that higher ticket prices industry-wide look increasingly likely.
The International Energy Agency has warned that Europe has around six weeks of jet fuel reserves left following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, with 20% of Europe's daily kerosene supply coming from the Persian Gulf. KLM has already suspended 160 flights in May, blaming the soaring cost of fuel.
For Spain, Wilson said the impact should be more contained than elsewhere, given the country's stronger fuel supply chain and refining capacity. But with fees rising, new aircraft going to competitors and talks apparently going nowhere, the outlook for Spain's regional airports isn't looking great.
Image: Ryanair
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