Spain’s Aviation Landscape Shifts: How Airlines are Responding to ryanair’s Cuts
Ryanair‘s recent reduction in flights to and within Spain has created ripples throughout the aviation industry. While the Irish carrier cites escalating airport fees as the primary driver, the resulting gaps are being addressed – and opportunities seized – by competitors. This article breaks down the current situation, detailing how airlines like Iberia, Wizz Air, and Volotea are stepping up to mitigate the impact, particularly for travelers to and from the Canary Islands and Spain’s regional airports.
ryanair’s Dispute with Aena: The root of the Problem
The core issue stems from a disagreement between Ryanair and Aena, the Spanish airport operator. Ryanair argues that Aena’s airport fees are “excessive” and are set to increase further, rendering many regional routes unprofitable. This has led to a significant scaling back of seats and routes, disproportionately affecting smaller airports across Spain. while Ryanair hasn’t publicly detailed specific route cuts, the impact is being felt by travelers.
Iberia Steps Up Capacity, especially to the Canary Islands
Iberia, Spain’s flag carrier, is making a substantial effort to fill the void left by Ryanair. The airline is considerably boosting capacity to key destinations:
Tenerife North: A 15,000-seat increase with multiple daily connections to Madrid.
Gran Canaria: 8,300 additional seats and up to 10 daily flights.
Tenerife South, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura & La Palma: Combined increase of 850 and 4,500 seats respectively.
To entice travelers,Iberia is offering promotional fares for residents,with flights to Madrid available from just €13. This demonstrates a clear commitment to maintaining connectivity,especially for those living in and traveling to the Canary Islands.
Wizz Air Expands its spanish footprint
Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air is aggressively expanding its presence in Spain. Between March 2025 and March 2026, the airline plans to add nearly 40 new routes from 16 Spanish airports.Key destinations include:
london Luton: from multiple Spanish cities.
Poland & Macedonia: New routes expanding Wizz Air’s network.
Currently,Wizz Air operates 15 routes to 10 destinations from the Canary Islands,offering over one million seats in 2025. They’ve already transported over 3.5 million passengers from the islands, including 600,000 in the last year alone, proving their commitment to the region.
Volotea: Focusing on Regional Connections
Volotea,known for connecting smaller and medium-sized European cities,is strategically evaluating potential routes previously served by Ryanair. While they’re not actively pursuing routes in Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, Tenerife North, or Valladolid (where ryanair has strong bases), they are open to opportunities that align with their business model.
Volotea’s focus remains on:
Southern Europe: Prioritizing routes within this region.
Existing Airports: Leveraging their current operational hubs.
The airline already serves Santander, Zaragoza, and the Canary Islands, with a potential new Santander-Granada connection slated for inauguration in December.Volotea plans to offer 3.6 million seats in Spain in 2025 - a 10% increase from 2024 and a remarkable 149% jump from 2019. They are also adding a new connection between Asturias (their main Spanish base) and Madrid on October 31st.
Will All Routes Be Replaced?
While these airlines are working to fill the gaps, it’s unlikely that all of Ryanair’s slashed routes will be fully restored, particularly at Spain’s smaller regional airports. The economic viability of these routes is now under scrutiny, and the future of connectivity to these destinations remains uncertain.
What does this meen for you?
If you’re planning travel to or from Spain, especially to regional destinations, it’s more crucial than ever to:
Be flexible with your travel dates.
Compare prices across multiple airlines.
Book in advance to secure the best fares.
* Stay informed about