Ryanair blasts AENA for overseas spending as Spain ‘Loses Routes and Jobs’
Ryanair has reignited its dispute with Spain’s airport operator, accusing the government of allowing profits generated in Spanish airports to be diverted abroad while regional airports continue to lose routes, tourists and jobs.
The Dublin-based airline says it may cut further capacity at Spain’s regional airports after already removing 1.2 million seats from its summer 2026 schedule and one million from winter 2025.
At the centre of the row is AENA, in which the Spanish Government holds a 51% stake. Ryanair claims the government is pocketing an €834 million dividend from AENA while doing “nothing to prevent the collapse of traffic” at regional airports such as Santiago de Compostela, Jerez, Valladolid and Zaragoza.
According to the airline, these airports are operating at around 70% below capacity and are “continuing to lose routes, tourists and jobs”.
Dispute Over Airport Charges
Ryanair is also criticising the proposed 21% increase in airport charges under Spain’s next five-year regulatory framework, known as DORA II. The airline argues that Madrid is failing to use its controlling stake in Aena to block the rise.
The carrier claims AENA is exploiting what it calls a monopoly position at Spain’s major airports, generating margins of up to 60% “at the expense of local economies that depend on affordable air travel for tourism and employment”.
For British visitors and residents in Spain, including the Canary Islands, particularly those relying on regional connections, any reduction in routes could mean fewer direct flights and potentially higher fares.
Claims of Foreign Investment Priorities
Ryanair has also taken aim at what it describes as Spain’s support for AENA’s overseas investments. It says €800 million has been directed in the past year towards AENA-operated airports in the UK and Brazil, as well as projects in Mexico and Jamaica.
Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair, said it was “extraordinary” that the Spanish government was prioritising dividends and foreign airport investments over strengthening connectivity within Spain.
While the airline says it will continue expanding in Spain’s main hubs, it warns that overall national capacity will remain flat unless airport charges are reduced.
Growth Elsewhere
In contrast, Ryanair says it plans to grow significantly in other tourism-driven markets, including Morocco (up 11%) and Italy (up 9%), which it describes as more competitive environments.
However, the airline has put a proposal on the table for Spain: if airport charges are lowered, Ryanair claims it could increase traffic by 40%, add 33 new aircraft based in Spain, open five new regional bases, and raise annual passenger numbers to 77 million by 2031.
Whether the Spanish government responds remains to be seen. For now, the standoff raises fresh questions over the future of regional air connectivity, and what it could mean for tourism-dependent areas across Spain.
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