Ryanair has withdrawn several routes from key regional airports in Spain, cancelling approximately 800,000 passenger seats. The budget airline has called on AENA, the country’s main airport operator, to sell off underperforming regional airports.
Ryanair issued a statement backed by Spain’s Transport Minister, asserting that Minister Puente faces two options. The statement said: “Minister Puente has two choices: either continue to support AENA’s failed regional airport policies or demand that AENA develop a growth plan to avoid losing airlines. If AENA cannot achieve growth in its regional airports, it must divest these airports, which are now suffering the consequences of inaction.”
Ryanair has ceased all flights to Jerez and Valladolid, while significantly reducing services to Vigo (-61%), Santiago (-28%), Zaragoza (-20%), Asturias (-11%), and Santander (-5%). The primary reason behind this decision is the £8.70 per passenger fee imposed by AENA. While a competition watchdog has frozen this fee until 2025, Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson stated that previous increases have not been offset, and high costs fail to incentivise routes to regional airports. Wilson commented: “It is clear that AENA has failed to account for the high, uncompetitive access costs at Spanish airports, which have left regional airports operating half-empty and currently underutilised at just 64% capacity.”
The UK, Spain’s largest tourism market, accounts for 23% of all visitors and has seen a 6.5% increase in Spanish tourism within a year.
AENA responded sharply to Ryanair’s accusations. The Spanish airport operator stated: “AENA regrets Ryanair’s use of unfounded claims, which misrepresent the reality of airport charges in Spain, as a way to mislead citizens and shamelessly pressure national and regional public institutions.”
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