In Spain, the airline has criticised airport operator Aena over fee increases. Photo credit: Andy119/Shutterstock
Ryanair is set to reduce its flight network across Europe in 2026, with route cuts affecting several countries including Spain, Portugal, Germany, France and Belgium. The airline has linked the decision to rising aviation taxes, airport charges and operational costs, which it says are making certain routes unviable.
The reductions will remove millions of seats from the airline’s schedule, with a particular impact on regional airports and lower-traffic routes. Countries most affected include popular tourist destinations frequently used by British travellers.
Full list of affected routes and airports
In Spain, Ryanair is withdrawing from several locations and reducing capacity across others. The airline has stopped all flights to Asturias and Vigo, and closed its base at Santiago de Compostela. Additional reductions affect Santander and Zaragoza, while connections to the Canary Islands, including Tenerife North, have been cut. Services to Valladolid and Jerez have also been discontinued.
In Germany, the airline is cutting 24 routes and reducing capacity across multiple airports. Affected locations include Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt-Hahn, Dortmund, Dresden, Leipzig and Memmingen, with some services suspended entirely at smaller airports.
In France, Ryanair has cancelled routes to Bergerac, Brive and Strasbourg, alongside wider reductions in regional services. Operations have also ceased at Clermont-Ferrand, with further capacity cuts expected at other regional airports.
In Belgium, the airline is removing around 20 routes and reducing services from Brussels and Charleroi, eliminating approximately one million seats from its schedule.
In Portugal, Ryanair is withdrew entirely from the Azores, cancelling all six routes to and from the islands this March.
Reasons behind the cuts
Ryanair has attributed the changes to increased costs across several markets. These include higher airport charges, rising aviation taxes and increased air traffic control fees imposed by national governments and airport operators.
In Spain, the airline has criticised airport operator Aena over fee increases, arguing that regional airports have become too expensive to operate. In Belgium, a planned increase in aviation taxes has led to the removal of routes from Brussels and Charleroi. Similar concerns have been raised in Germany and France, where higher taxes and regulatory costs have affected route profitability.
The airline has stated that it will instead focus capacity on markets where operating costs are lower and demand remains strong.
Impact on British expats and residents in Spain
The changes are expected to affect British residents and expats in Spain, particularly those living outside major cities. Many of the withdrawn routes involve regional airports, which are commonly used by expat communities for travel to and from the United Kingdom. The closure of routes to airports such as Asturias, Vigo and Valladolid, along with reduced services to Santander and Zaragoza, is likely to limit direct connections. Travellers may need to rely more heavily on larger airports such as Madrid, Barcelona or Málaga, increasing journey times and overall travel costs.
Reduced connectivity to the Canary Islands may also affect British residents living or holidaying there, particularly during peak travel periods when demand is higher and fewer low-cost options are available.
In practical terms, the reduction in routes could lead to fewer flight options, higher fares on remaining services and increased reliance on alternative airlines or indirect routes. This may be particularly significant for those who travel regularly between Spain and the UK for work, family or property-related reasons.
What to do if your flight is cancelled
Passengers affected by cancellations are protected under UK and EU air passenger rights rules. If a Ryanair flight is cancelled, travellers are entitled to a choice between a refund or an alternative flight to their destination. Airlines must offer re-routing at the earliest opportunity or at a later date chosen by the passenger, subject to availability. If the airline cannot provide a suitable alternative, passengers may arrange their own travel and claim back reasonable costs.
In cases where the cancellation is within the airline’s control, compensation may also be payable depending on the distance of the flight and the notice given. This is separate from the right to a refund or replacement journey. Passengers are also entitled to care while waiting for a replacement flight. This includes meals, refreshments and, if necessary, accommodation and transport between the airport and hotel.
It is advisable to keep all receipts and written communication, as these may be required when submitting a claim. Claims can be made directly through the airline, although processing times may vary depending on demand.
Wider implications for travel
The scale of the reductions suggests a broader shift in how low-cost airlines allocate capacity across Europe. By withdrawing from routes where costs are higher, Ryanair is concentrating operations in markets it considers more sustainable.
For passengers, this means that access to low-cost travel may become more limited in certain regions, particularly at smaller airports. While alternative airlines may replace some routes, there is no guarantee that they will offer the same frequency or pricing structure.
The 2026 schedule changes highlight how aviation policy and airport pricing can directly influence route availability, with consequences for tourism, regional connectivity and everyday travel across Europe.
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