Ryanair Threatens to Cut Another Million Seats Next Summer if Aena Doesn't Lower Fees

The Irish carrier is resorting to extortion to get its way in the conflict with AENA and airport charges.

The chief executive of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, announced that the airline could cut another million seats on flights to Spain for the upcoming summer if Aena does not reduce airport fees.

O’Leary made the threat in an interview with the Financial Times, saying he will return to Madrid in two weeks to, “probably”, announce the removal of an additional million seats for the next summer season.

The proposed cut would be added to the 800,000 seats already reduced for this summer and the one‑million seats previously cancelled for the imminent winter season, a protest against Aena’s 6.5 % fee increase.

Ryanair is demanding that the Spanish government – which owns 51 % of Aena – lower the amount of airport charges at regional airports, where the airline has decided to scale back or eliminate its operations, in order to make them “more competitive.”

The government, however, views Ryanair’s move as a form of “blackmail.” It points out that the proposed fee rise of €0.68 per passenger is far below the average 21 % increase in Ryanair ticket prices over the past year. Ryanair posted €820 million in profit in the first quarter of the current fiscal year, leading officials to argue that the airline’s demand to cut fees is simply a way to “make even more money.”

“This is a campaign of intimidation, pointing, rudeness and, lately, open blackmail against the Spanish Government,” said Consumer Minister Pablo Bustinduy, who has had a strained relationship with the airline since the government imposed a €107 million fine for “abusive practices.” He added that the strategy will not “intimidate” the government.

Last week Ry announced it will close its Santiago base, cancel all flights to Vigo and Tenerife North, and reduce capacity in Asturias, Santander, Zaragoza and the Canary Islands. These moves add to cuts already applied for the summer season at other regional airports such as Jerez and Valladolid, where Ryanair has ceased operations.

If competing airlines do not take over these seats, the total reduction in Spain’s air‑capacity could reach 16 %.