Ryanair pledges to expand Spanish traffic to 77m if Aena reduces fees

Ryanair offered to expand Spanish operations from 55m to 77m passengers.
Aena proposed a 6.62pc tariff increase and a 21pc multi-year hike.
Ryanair pulled nearly twom passenger seats in response.
Aena CEO Lucena called Ryanair’s tactics “hypocrisy, rudeness, and blackmail.”
Ryanair redirected capacity to Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Sweden and Hungary.

Ryanair has offered to expand its Spanish operations from 55m to 77m passengers annually if Aena retreats from planned multi-year fee increases. The conflict intensified when Aena proposed a 6.62pc tariff increase, followed by a proposed 21pc hike over a multi-year period. Ryanair has pulled nearly twom passenger seats across consecutive schedules in response to what it calls “excessive and uncompetitive charges.”

Ryanair has halted or severely slashed winter services at regional locations including Santiago de Compostela, Vigo, Valladolid, Jerez and Tenerife North. Aena CEO Maurici Lucena denounced Ryanair’s pressure tactics as “hypocrisy, rudeness, and blackmail,” noting the charge increase amounts to just €0.68 per passenger and that Ryanair raised its own ticket prices by 21pc. The Spanish government has sided largely with Aena and fined Ryanair and other budget carriers €179m collectively.

Ryanair has redirected a significant portion of its capacity to lower-fee international markets including Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Sweden, and Hungary. The airline has stated it has the fleet flexibility to immediately pivot back if Aena and the Spanish Ministry of Transport back down on charges.