Ryanair and airport operator Aena are locked in a dispute over airport charges, with the Irish ULCC announcing some reductions in its Spanish network for summer 2025, citing “excessive charges” and ineffective incentives at regional airports.
The airline says it will cut 800,000 seats and 12 routes, including the closure of operations at Jerez and Valladolid and reductions at regional airports such as Vigo (-61%), Santiago (-28%), Zaragoza (-20%), Asturias (-11%), and Santander (-5%).
Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson accused Aena of “unjustified rate increases” and a failure to “implement effective incentive systems to support Spain’s regional growth.” He also said the company was “prioritizing foreign investment” in airports it operates in the UK and Americas.
While Wilson welcomed the Spanish competition authority Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia’s decision to freeze Aena’s rates for 2025, he argued this does not compensate for previous increases. He called on the regulator to enforce a rollback of charges and implement incentive packages.
In response, Aena dismissed Ryanair’s claims as a “mimetic replica” of its communication strategy across Europe. The operator emphasized that its average airport charge of €10.35 ($10.65) per passenger remains “one of the lowest in Europe” and has been frozen until 2026.
The operator also pointed out that data for the summer 2025 season shows Ryanair’s overall seat capacity in Spain is set to grow compared to summer 2024, despite reductions at some regional airports. Analysis of data filed with OAG backs this claim up, with the carrier scheduling 5% year-on-year growth.
Aena also highlighted that regional airports have access to commercial incentives that can reduce rates to approximately €2 per passenger. The operator argued that Ryanair’s decision to reduce operations in regional areas while growing at larger tourist airports demonstrates a commercial choice, not a response to airport fees.
“Aena regrets that Ryanair uses spurious arguments that do not correspond to the reality of airport rates in Spain to confuse citizens and shamelessly put pressure on national and regional public institutions,” a statement from Aena said.
The disagreement comes as Spain’s aviation market continues to grow, with Aena’s airports handling a record 309.3 million passengers in 2024, up 9.2% year-on-year. OAG data shows that airlines are set to offer approximately 118 million departure seats from and within Spain during the summer 2025 season, reflecting a rise of more than 3% on 2024.
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