Ryanair clashes with Aena over airport fees, threatening to cut regional flights due to high costs compared to other countries.
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Ryanair’s dispute with Aena over airport fees has intensified as the airline reduced capacity in smaller cities following accusations from the airport operator of “blackmail.” Ryanair claims Aena’s pricing favors large airports, hindering regional growth, and threatens to move flights to more competitive countries like Italy, Sweden, Croatia, or Hungary, which offer lower taxes. These competing nations often have government tax cuts that allow airlines to offer cheaper fares, a core part of Ryanair’s low-cost strategy. In contrast, Aena has increased its fees for 2024 and 2025, though the latter increase was temporarily blocked by regulators. Ryanair argues that the added cost per passenger in Spain varies significantly depending on the airport, ranging from €6.91 to €17.83. The airline’s strategy involves threatening withdrawal before implementing service reductions in smaller Spanish airports, which it claims lack incentives compared to larger hubs. Aena counters that it already offers incentives for regional airports, such as discounts on security services, but the conflict remains unresolved despite public disagreements between company leaders.
