Ryanair launches 50,000 seats from €49.99 as Spain’s rail disruption continues

Travelling between Málaga and Madrid has become a major headache following the devastating train crash in Toledo, but Ryanair has announced an alternative for passengers facing continued rail disruption. The Irish airline is introducing two daily flights between the two cities, offering more than 50,000 seats with fares starting from just €49.99. The new services will operate from November 14 until January 10, giving Costa del Sol residents and travellers another option for reaching the Spanish capital during the busy Christmas period.

Two daily flights will run through the Christmas rush

Ryanair announced on Friday October 30 that it’s adding two daily flights between Málaga and Madrid, with more than 50,000 seats on offer from €49.99. Tickets went on sale the same day.

The flights will operate from Saturday November 14 until Sunday January 10, which means they cover the busy Christmas and New Year period, when Costa del Sol residents and visitors are most likely to be heading to the capital. However, the details released so far don’t include flight times or say which Madrid airport will be used.

Ryanair spokesperson Alejandra Ruiz said the airline hopes its low fares can help families, communities and businesses stay connected, and the company also sent its condolences to the families of the victims.

There’s still no date for the trains to return

High-speed services between Madrid and Andalucía, including Málaga, have been suspended since the crash near Urda, and Adif (the company that runs Spain’s rail network) hasn’t said when they’ll be back. Renfe has stopped selling tickets on the route until Sunday December 13, though it’s said that doesn’t mean the line will stay closed that long, and services could restart sooner if Adif gives the go-ahead.

Passengers on the Málaga route have been here before, as the January Adamuz crash had already shut the line for 102 days.

Flight prices have already been climbing

Reports since the crash have suggested some flight prices between Málaga and Madrid have soared as high as €1,000. Iberia has capped fares to and from Andalucía at €99 in economy until Sunday November 8 and added an extra Madrid to Málaga flight, but that cap runs out well before Ryanair’s flights even begin.

Ryanair’s headline fare sits at around half of Iberia’s cap, and it will be on offer for the whole run through to January.

What to do if you already hold a train ticket

Renfe is letting affected passengers change or cancel their tickets free of charge, while Iryo passengers should contact the company directly about their bookings.

Ryanair isn’t the only way to get there. Volotea is adding almost 100 extra flights between Madrid and Andalucía, including Málaga, from Friday November 13 to December 16, with basic fares capped at €75 per journey. Long-distance coaches and car-sharing services such as BlaBlaCar are also options, according to our guide for affected passengers, though drivers should expect busy roads over the All Saints long weekend, as the DGT has warned of extra traffic after the crash.

Elsewhere in Andalucía, a new direct coach between Almería and Madrid starts on Monday November 2 while trains are suspended, and Sevilla’s Cercanías commuter services were suspended after a train derailment hours after the Toledo crash.

Renfe’s own replacement plan, which was due to start on Friday October 30, has been postponed, and the company has said it can’t begin before Tuesday November 3. So anyone holding a train ticket should check with Renfe or Iryo before booking a flight.