Ryanair disputes Spanish airport taxes and reduces regional capacity

A dispute between Ryanair and the Spanish government is escalating over airport taxation and flight capacity. Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary has criticized Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente, accusing him of failing to understand the economic realities of regional airports. The airline claims that high fees charged by Aena, the state-managed airport operator, are hindering the development of new routes.

Ryanair has announced plans to reduce its seat capacity in Spanish regional airports by approximately 3 million between 2025 and 2026, while increasing capacity at major hubs like Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, and Palma. The company stated that aircraft intended for Spanish regional destinations are being redirected to more competitive markets such as Italy, Morocco, Albania, Poland, Slovakia, and Sweden.

Minister Óscar Puente defended the current fee structure, suggesting that Spanish airport taxes are low enough to allow Ryanair executives to earn significant personal wealth. He has accused the airline of using tax criticism to mask issues related to aircraft availability. The conflict is also impacting financial markets, with Aena experiencing downward pressure on its stock price amid the ongoing dispute.