Maurici Lucena (Aena): Other airlines will fill Ryanair’s regional route void

Ryanair’s accusations dismissed

“This airline’s tactic to collect subsidies is known and has been applied in other countries such as Germany, Italy or France.”

President of Aena, Maurici Lucena, said on Thursday that the “vacuum” Ryanair will leave on some regional routes will be occupied “over the months” by other carriers. He rejected the Irish carrier’s claim of an excessive rise in airport charges, labeling the strategy a “alarm tactic” aimed at securing subsidies.

“The Spanish airport system, which is a reference model worldwide, cannot be organized according to the whims, lies and selfishness of a single airline,” Lucena told TVE’s program *La de La 1 as reported by Europa Press.

Aena’s stance

• Aena cannot force any airline to operate at an airport, but it will work to persuade, rationally, other carriers to cover the routes abandoned by Ryanair.
• Lucena put the numbers in perspective: the one‑million passengers Ryanair says it will cut in regional airports represent only 0.7 % of total winter‑season bookings in Spain.
• In net terms, Ryanair is expected to increase both passenger numbers and flights in the country.

“Ryanair’s strategy is known throughout the sector in Europe; it creates alarm in public opinion with the sole purpose of having its requests met and being subsidised, either with taxpayers’ money or with money from companies like Aena,” he added.

“Insignificant” fee increase

• The increase in Aena’s airport fees amounts to €0.68 per passenger, which Lucena describes as insignificant for a traveler’s decision.
• By contrast, Ryanair has raised its own ticket prices by 21 % over the past year.

Lucena argues the dispute is not about fees but about a “game” the airline plays to pressure public authorities and municipalities into subsidising its activity—a tactic he says has been used in Germany, Italy and France.

“Spain is a serious country, and Aena, a company larger than Ryanair and with great prestige, will not yield to this kind of pressure,” he asserted.

Confidence in route recovery

Lucena expressed confidence that the affected routes will be taken over by other airlines:

• Vigo Airport – despite the “unease” caused by Ryanair’s stance, traffic is expected to improve because other carriers see the destination’s appeal.
• Valladolid‑Barcelona – the route will now be operated by Vueling.

He concluded that the Spanish airport system is “quite unique in the world” thanks to its solidarity model, where larger airports help finance the losses of smaller ones. Aena, together with regional administrations, will strive to bring those flights back to regional airports.