Popular European Budget Airline Slashes Seating, Hikes up Fees
Ryanair is about to make it harder for British travelers to get to Spain. The European budget airline is reportedly slashing close to one million seats on flights to and from the country’s regional airports after a planned 6.5% fee hike by Aena, Spain’s state-run airport operator.
The higher charges will help fund major upgrades at Madrid and Barcelona. But these rising costs aren’t doing anything to help the smaller hubs be profitable. If you’re heading to Spain’s lesser-known regions, it may be more difficult to find a flight with so few options available.
This isn’t new territory for Ryanair. Earlier this year, the carrier already cut 800,000 seats and dropped a dozen Spanish routes over what it called “excessive fees.” CEO Eddie Wilson has made it clear: the airline will only “invest where we can get a return.”
If you have plans to travel to Spain, check your routes early and prepare to be flexible. You may need to fly through a major hub or look at other airlines serving Spain if your usual regional connection disappears.
Other airlines flying to Spain you can book instead
This story was originally reported by Men’s Journal on Aug 30, 2025, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Men’s Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
