Ryanair crisis in Spain: Are summer holidays under threat?
By Marc Menendez-Roche • Updated: 10 Feb 2025 • 8:46 • 1 minute read
Ryanair’s Spanish stand-off: Are summer holidays about to take a nosedive? Credit: Shutterstock, robert coolen
Holidaymakers heading for sunny Spain could soon find themselves caught in some serious turbulence
The so-called ‘war of words’ between Spain’s government and budget carrier Ryanair could leave passengers and tourists feeling the pinch.
Flights in short supply as Ryanair pulls thousands of seats from 2025 schedule
Low-cost flights to and from Spanish airports could be scarcer than sangria at a dry party this summer. Ryanair has reportedly pulled thousands of seats from its 2025 schedule as part of its ongoing clash with the country’s aviation authorities.
Here’s the spicy rub: Ryanair accuses Spanish airport operator Aena of slapping on ‘excessive’ fees. Aena, on the other hand, says Ryanair is engaging in ‘blackmail’ by trying to secure free rein in its airports. Meanwhile, the Spanish government has taken a firm stance, criticising what it calls ‘abusive practices’ by the airline – particularly over baggage fees and other extra charges.
800,000 seats less for the Spanish market on Ryanair flights
With about 800,000 fewer Ryanair seats in the Spanish market – some 18% of its usual operations – this travel tango isn’t just hot air. Jerez and Valladolid are being axed from the airline’s schedules altogether, leaving these regions without any Ryanair connections.
Winners or losers? Are there any winners here, or is it a lose-lose? ¡Ay, caramba!
Sunny Spain could still beckon for dedicated sun-seekers, but if Ryanair and the Spanish authorities don’t bury the hatchet soon, the only thing soaring could be the cost of your summer getaway. Watch this space – summer 2025 might just be heading for a bumpy landing!
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Marc Menendez-Roche
Marc is a writer, educator, and language enthusiast with a background in business and legal communication. With over a decade of experience in writing and teaching, he brings a clear, engaging voice to complex topics—guided by a keen interest in educational neuroscience and how people learn. At Euro Weekly News, Marc contributes lifestyle features and community-focused stories that highlight everyday life across Spain. His ability to connect language, learning, and lived experience helps bring depth and relatability to the topics he covers.
Comments
Mark
08 February 2025 • 01:26This, if it does happen, could effectively be one way to help partially solve the other much talked about issue – impact on availability in the property market.
De
08 February 2025 • 13:09It’s sick that airlines expect to use airports for free or lowered tariffs while the make millions. Airports are public, built with public money and if a private company wants to use them they should pay fairly. Regarding the fines, Ryan Air is not the only airline that has been fined. Personal I would rather walk to Spain then fly on that ***holes airline. He epitomises every thing wrong with corporate culture today.
Pugsley
08 February 2025 • 13:52You’re very lucky, if it wasn’t for Ryanair a lot of people wouldn’t have been able to afford a holiday abroad!
De
09 February 2025 • 09:55If you run the numbers Ryan Air is not much cheaper then other airlines. Jet2, Norwegian, Vueling. All more or less the same.
Boom
08 February 2025 • 15:23Then travel on a more expensive airline.
Airports aren’t government owned in mist countries. The ones that are government owned are a rip off for travellers. Especially the so called duty free shops, when it’s cheaper outside of the airports to buy goods.
Imelda
09 February 2025 • 02:07nothing wrong with Ryanair i have flown with them regularly from day one cheep and cheerful love Ryanair
Marty Mcfly
08 February 2025 • 15:55Ryan air desserve to be charged extra considering all the extras they pass on to their customers.
Luis
08 February 2025 • 19:24All European countries should have the same attitude as Spain, Ryan Air looks for any little mistake so as they can penalize you. They have staff that are trained as policeman, now they want to implement automatic check in, what happens to the airport staff (become unemployed?). Michael has the attitude he calls the shots at all airports. Time to have Ryan Air aircraft’s parked without business. Not sure how LC they are, after paying for basic flight plus check in or carry on baggage plus been penalized for your bag thats 5mm too big, come on they are rip-offs
De
09 February 2025 • 09:56Totally agree not to mention he is attacking public officials that are democratically elected.
Michael John Colins
09 February 2025 • 04:44Most of the comments here are justified. Ryan Air, the airline who would charge you for having a pee or even breath air has the audacity to talk about being charged themselves. Ryan Air try every trick in the book to make money from customers. No one should ever feel sorry for this airline and its greedy owners. The best solution should be for all governments to make a rule regarding the minimum service that must be included in the air fare. From baggage allowances to seating preferences, and tickets. Problem solved. And yes I know there are a few passengers who fly with nothing so they enjoy the cheaper flight but the fact is they are genuinely few and far between. Ryan Air are also full of hot air, Spain is a big draw for UK / Irish tourists, they will still come even if the ticket cost rises but it really comes down to Ryan Air greed.
Gaz
09 February 2025 • 11:13At least with Ryan air, you know exactly what your going to get. When Granada upped the airport fee,s, Oleary pulled the plug. Knock on effected car hire, taxi,s, hospitality businesses. Still not recovered.
Sean
09 February 2025 • 12:23Well done Michael and Ryanair on creating an Irish airline and building into up into a giant successful business. This would not have been possible without the MILLIONS of people whom use it every single year. Without Ryanair millions of people would never have been able to travel any great distance from there homes for a holiday etc. Only option would have been buses or trains which aren’t very cheap. There will always be whingers about this that and everything else. It’s called begrudgery .I flew to Alicante recently for a total of €42.00 including seat which is a regular enough fair. To compare: I took a taxi last night for 15 mins and it cost €36.00. Look at the amount of jobs created because of Ryanairs existence directly and indirectly in so many cities and country’s across Europe. Of course they make money. That’s called capitalism. But look at the bigger picture before whining again. Probably see all the whingers in the non priority queue again soon getting on our €35 flight to somewhere exotic in Europe.
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