The Irish company, which claims to be the largest group in the sector in Europe with 200,000 passengers on 3,600 daily flights from about 90 bases (37 countries, 626 aircraft), states it will focus on locations where costs are lower and there is potential for business growth, such as Italy (excluding Rome), Sweden, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Albania, and Morocco.
In the Spanish case, where a revision had already been announced, the fee forecast for 2026 by operator Aena is set to increase by 6.5% to an average of 11 euros per passenger after a decade-long freeze, according to news agency EFE.
Business experts argue that Ryanair is facing the same problem as several other airlines: a shortage of aircraft, as the major manufacturers, European Airbus and American Boeing, have been experiencing delays in deliveries and fleet renewals.
In addition to the lack of aircraft, which hampers meeting demand and limits offerings at the most profitable airports, industry sources told EFE that another significant factor has been the reduction or even cancellation of subsidies from local or regional authorities for airlines to promote their destinations.
In France, this Irish low-cost carrier will cease flights from Bergerac, Brive, and Strasbourg, ending 25 connections in winter (750,000 seats, or 13% of its offer). It will also reduce capacity by 8% at Paris-Beauvais, 9% in Marseille, and 4% in Toulouse.
In Germany, Ryanair will cut 800,000 seats, around 10% of the planned offer, although it intends to operate at some regional airports while abandoning nine others deemed “expensive,” such as Berlin, Hamburg, and Cologne, thus ending 24 connections.
Austria will also be affected, with Vienna losing three connections to Billund (Denmark), Santander, and Tallinn, due to a 30% increase in fees after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to Ryanair’s declared data.
Earlier this month, the airline had already announced a decrease in capacity in Riga (160,000 fewer passengers, or 20%) and the end of seven international routes from that location.
In Lithuania, the company’s activity will not see any increase because tariffs in Vilnius have increased by 30% since 2023 and seven percent at the more tourist-oriented Palanga airport.
Estonia can expect a 40% reduction (110,000 seats and five international connections) in Tallinn because fees have risen by 70%, as justified by Ryanair, following an earlier cut of 45% (230,000 passengers).
