One million less places this winter at provincial airports

The pulse between the government and Ryanair continues to climb. After a summer in which the company had withdrawn 800,000 places from our country, it now ensures that it will withdraw a million seats available this winter. The official reason: Aena’s rates. THE OFFICIAL: THE FINE OF CONSUMPTION TO THE COMPANY.

One million less. That is what Eddie Wilson, CEO of the airline, has confirmed to Europa Press. The company will eliminate a million places available during the next winter season. The definitive announcement should occur Next Wednesday, September 3.

In his interview, Wilson says that the movement is because they will “invest where we can obtain a return” since, in his opinion, the government is allowing regional infrastructure “to deteriorate and underminate.”

Because? The official reason that Ryanair wields is the increase in the airport rates charged by Aena. The company, which manages these spaces and provides services such as safety, cleaning and other logistics -related activities, will raise prices next March.

The company wants the new rate increases by 6.5% With a maximum of 11.03 euros per passenger after the price has almost frozen a decade. This only increased (although by 4.09%) in 2024 alleging that the Ukraine War had hit its accounts.

At the moment, competition has to confirm whether this increase in rates may or may not be carried out. And, despite everything, it is something that will be applied from next March but Ryanair has already repeatedly threatened With the reduction of the offer if this happened.

What does Aena say? The company ensures that not all sites pay the same for the service they offer and have stressed on several occasions that their work is essential for the operation of the airport itself. Payment at Aena’s rates includesamong other services:

• Aena’s staff
• Air navigation services (such as communications or meteorological reports)
• Security services
• MAINTENANCE AND CLEANING SERVICES
• Attention to people with reduced mobility

In addition, the company indicates that they exist Incentives so that airlines pay less where airports accumulate less offer. For example, the discount in the passenger rate with reduced mobility is 100%. In regional airports that have not recovered prepandymia traffic, the discount is 70%. And there are additional discounts for passengers who make connections or fly to the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands.

There is something else. It is not only a matter of rates. Ryanair and the government also maintain a war open for the issue of hand luggage. Consumption fined the company (109 million euros)along with other airlines, because it considers that the size of the suitcase that you can transport for free is excessively small. Europe, however, seems to give the reason to the company.

At the moment, the litigation continues. Last June 26, The Superior Court of Justice of Madrid suspended in a precautionary way it and from Ryanair say they have “absolute confidence that The mules will be canceled“For European justice.

There is no confirmation of the latter but the truth is that The European Parliament and The European Commissionon their way to reform the regulations that affect travelers, they seem to align with Ryanair. If everything goes ahead, they should define some Minimum dimensions for this backpack/suitcase But these are aligned with those offered by the Irish company that also He has already made his own gesture of goodwill.

Those indicated. Regional airports will be those that undergo the changes in Ryanair’s strategy. During the summer season we are living, the company It has already eliminated 800,000 seats from seven airports. In Jerez de la Frontera and Valladolid they have stopped operating. In Vigo, Santander, Santiago and Zaragoza and Asturias have reduced their operations to a greater or lesser extent.

This frightened has directly impacted the number of flights made in these airfields. Between April and July (first four months of the summer season) they traveled 240,000 passengers less that in the same period of 2024. It remains to be seen the impact at the end of the summer season but airports such as Valladolid anda have been practically deserted.

Photo | Markus Winkler

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