Ryanair Announces Significant Flight Cuts to Spain, Impacting Popular Holiday Destinations
September 3, 2025 – Budget airline Ryanair is drastically reducing its flight capacity to and from Spain, a move set to impact millions of British holidaymakers and regional economies. The airline announced today it will close its base in Santiago de Compostela and cancel all flights to Vigo and Tenerife North, alongside continued closures of bases in valladolid and Jerez.
The cuts, announced in a press conference, are a direct response to planned increases in passenger fees at Spanish airports, set to rise by 6.5% in 2026, according to Aena, the countryS airport operator. Ryanair will reduce capacity in Asturias, Santander, Zaragoza, and the Canary Islands this winter as part of a broader plan to decrease capacity by 41% in Spanish regions and 10% in the Canary Islands.
“This will lead to a loss of investment, connectivity, tourism, and employment in regional Spain, as many routes will be economically unviable,” warned Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair.
Specifically, flights to Vigo will cease in January, and service to Tenerife North will end with the start of the Winter 2025 season. Capacity reductions will also affect Zaragoza (down 45%), santander (down 38%), Asturias (down 16%), and Vitoria (down 2%). In total, Ryanair will scrap 36 routes to and from Spain.
Despite the cuts to Spain,Ryanair is shifting capacity,planning to add two million seats on routes to Italy,Morocco,Croatia,and Albania.
While the impact is more severe on mainland Spain, reports from Canarian weekly indicate that Ryanair intends to “continue growth in major airports including Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, and those in the Balearics and Canary Islands.” Majorca Daily Bulletin also highlighted the airline’s commitment to “keep backing big hubs where demand is strong.”
The proclamation comes as Ryanair reported a 2% increase in passenger numbers last month, carrying 21.0 million passengers in August, up from 20.5 million the previous year.The airline maintained a 96% load factor. Over the past 12 months, Ryanair’s passenger numbers have grown by 6% to 203.6 million. Competitor Wizz air also reported growth, carrying 6.9 million passengers in August, an 11% increase from 6.2 million in August 2024, with a 95% load factor.The move by Ryanair raises questions about the balance between airport fees and airline profitability, particularly given that European airlines currently benefit from a tax break on jet fuel estimated to be worth £7.5 billion annually in the UK alone.
