Ryanair cuts 400,000 seats in the Canary Islands and pulls out of Tenerife airport
Ryanair has confirmed a major reduction of winter flights in Spain, announcing it will withdraw completely from Tenerife North Airport and Vigo as part of a wider restructuring due to increasing landing charges imposed by AENA.
The airline will cut around one million seats across Spain this winter, including 400,000 in the Canary Islands, equivalent to a 10% reduction in the archipelago’s capacity. Nationwide, regional airports will see a 41% drop, equal to 600,000 fewer seats.
Eddie Wilson, Ryanair’s Chief Executive, said the decision follows the 6.5% rise in airport charges introduced by AENA, Spain’s state-owned airport operator, which the carrier describes as “excessive and uncompetitive”.
“These reductions will further damage vulnerable regional airports and will lead to a loss of investment, connectivity, tourism, and jobs in Spain, as many routes will no longer be economically viable,” Wilson warned during a press briefing.
As part of the cuts, Ryanair will close its two-aircraft base in Santiago, representing a loss of €200 million in investment. From the start of the 2025 winter season, flights from Tenerife North will cease, while services to Vigo will end in January 2026. Valladolid and Jerez airports will also remain closed throughout winter 2025.
Other airports affected by reduced schedules include Zaragoza (-45%), Santander (-38%), Asturias (-16%), and Vitoria (-2%).
In total, 36 direct connections to Spain’s regional airports and the Canary Islands will be cancelled. Ryanair says two million seats annually will be reallocated to other markets, including Italy, Morocco, Croatia, and Albania.
Despite the move, the airline insists it “remains committed to Spain” but is urging the Spanish government and the national competition authority (CNMC) to reject Aena’s fee increases and extend the current freeze to safeguard regional connectivity, tourism, and jobs.
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