Ryanair Vs. Aena: Airport Fee Hike Sparks Conflict In Spain

In July, Aena’s board approved a 6.62% rise in fees from March 2026, equal to 68 euro cents (79 U.S. cents) per guest, which it states complies with a formula mandated by Spanish regulators. Ryanair says the rises are unjustified, considered that Aena has reported record revenues which many local airports remain underutilized.

Ryanair’s Objections to Aena’s Fee Increase

“Aena and the Spanish government have a commitment to discuss to the regions their long-term strategy for Spain’s regional airport terminals, which are currently virtually 70% vacant, as their bad management is directly contributing to the loss of regional work, connection and investment,” Wilson states.

Ryanair has actually reduced back in numerous Spanish regions– down 48.4% at Vigo, 22.3% at Santiago, 13.7% at Zaragoza and 15% at Asturias– it has increased in others, with Alicante, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Valencia among those seeing development. On the whole, Ryanair’s summer 2025 capacity in Spain expanded 3.6% year-over-year.

“Ryanair’s interactions and institutional connections plan is in irreversible and deliberate problem with objective realities and truthfulness,” Lucena claims, including the airline frequently endangers cross Europe to draw out subsidies. He highlights that the suggested fee-per-passenger increase in 2026 follows a legitimately mandated formula, and says the increase is negligible compared to price rises Ryanair executed over the past year.

Aena’s Rebuttal: Deception and Economic Pressure

Ryanair had actually 2 airplane based in Santiago and provided 12 paths throughout the winter 2024-25 season, according to OAG Schedules Analyzer information. The move heightens Ryanair’s recurring disagreement with Aena over airport fees.

“For some time now, Ryanair has sought to benefit from its high market share in Spain to change this symbiotic relationship into among vassalage, which will never ever be approved by Aena, and which would seriously harm the functioning of the Spanish flight terminal system,” Lucena claims. “It is genuinely a pity that Ryanair’s communications and institutional connections plan appear to be regulated by hypocrisy, rudeness and blackmail.”

The Irish ULCC means to shut its Santiago Rosalía de Castro Airport terminal base, cancel all flights to Vigo and Tenerife North, and keep its Valladolid and Jerez bases closed. Ability will certainly also be crossed Asturias, Santander, Zaragoza, Vitoria and the Canary Islands.

Capacity Cuts and Regional Impact

According to Aena, the Spanish airport system managed virtually 90 million passengers in between June and August, noting the busiest summer on document. The operator says airline companies have actually set up 2.1% more seats for winter 2025-26 than the previous year. Regardless of the disagreement, Ryanair remains Spain’s biggest airline by ability, accounting for 21.5% of all departure seats this summer, OAG data programs.

“These cuts will certainly better hurt Spain’s already at risk local flight terminals and will certainly lead to a loss of investment, connection, tourism, and tasks in local Spain, as many routes will certainly end up being financially unviable,” a declaration from Ryanair claims. CEO Eddie Wilson adds that much of the service provider’s regional Spanish capability will be relocated to airport terminals in nations with even more rate of interest in growing traffic, such as Italy, Morocco and Hungary.

Lucena additionally worries that Aena’s costs continue to be among the lowest in Europe, that local airports already gain from heavily subsidized fees, and that the higher fees are necessary to fund Aena’s biggest investment plan for airports in recent decades.

Aena Defends Fee Structure and Investment

Aena has actually issued a highly worded counterclaim, disregarding Ryanair’s insurance claims as deceptive and politically inspired. In a statement, Aena Chairman and CEO Maurici Lucena accuses the airline company of using “deceit” in its communications and of attempting to press governments for economic concessions.