Wizz Air takes on Ryanair on 87 Spanish routes in a fight that could bring fares down

For years, budget flights to dozens of Spanish airports have usually meant searching for only one name: Ryanair. That grip is now loosening as Hungarian rival Wizz Air pushes onto 87 of those same routes, opening its first two Spanish bases in Madrid and Valencia this November.

Ryanair’s grip loosens on 87 shared routes 

Wizz Air will compete directly with Ryanair on 87 routes this year, ending the Irish carrier’s exclusive run on many of them for the first time. The shift comes as Wizz Air’s Spanish passenger numbers climbed 39 per cent to 5.74 million in the first half of 2026, while Ryanair’s own growth slowed to just 1.7 per cent, reaching 29.8 million passengers over the same period. Ryanair’s domestic flights within Spain fell 23 per cent even as its international routes grew 5 per cent, suggesting regional connections are where Wizz Air is making its biggest inroads.

Ryanair has already been retreating from Spain’s smaller airports, citing high fees charged by airport operator Aena (the state airport authority). It has cut 1.2 million seats from regional airports for summer 2026, closed its base in Santiago de Compostela, made its Valladolid and Jerez bases inactive, and cancelled flights from Vigo and Tenerife Norte, with further reductions planned this winter at Asturias, Santander, Zaragoza and the Canary Islands. 

Madrid and Valencia become Wizz Air’s newest Spanish bases

Wizz Air will open its first two Spanish bases on Monday November 2 in Valencia and Tuesday November 3 in Madrid, each starting with two Airbus A321neo aircraft. More than 150 new local pilot and cabin crew jobs are expected to be created as a result.

For the first time, Wizz Air is also entering Spain’s domestic market. Its Valencia base will connect the city with Asturias, Santiago de Compostela, Santander, Bilbao and Palma de Mallorca, while Madrid will fly to Asturias, Santiago de Compostela and Palma de Mallorca. 

Alicante, Málaga and the Canary Islands are already served by the airline’s wider Spanish network of around 150 routes from 16 airports, a total ABC reports will grow beyond 200 routes from 21 airports this winter. 

Could tickets actually become cheaper?

More capacity on the same route usually puts downward pressure on fares, particularly when two ultra-low-cost carriers compete head-to-head rather than a budget airline going up against a full-service one. Prices could fall as a result, though neither airline has said so, and previous route battles in Spain have not always translated into cheaper fares for passengers. 

As with any budget airline comparison, the advertised one-way fare rarely tells the full story. Both airlines charge separately for larger cabin bags, allocated seats and priority boarding, so the final price at checkout is what is worth comparing rather than the number splashed across the booking page.

Wizz Air expands, but Ryanair still remains far ahead

Despite Wizz Air’s rapid growth, the gap between the two airlines in Spain still remains wide. Ryanair carried 29.8 million passengers through Spanish airports in the first half of 2026, more than five times Wizz Air’s 5.74 million over the same period.

Wizz Air is growing far faster than its rival, but overtaking Ryanair as Spain’s dominant budget airline remains a distant prospect for now.