Transport minister accuses Ryanair of masking aircraft shortages with airport fee demands

Spain’s Minister for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Oscar Puente, has accused Ryanair of disguising its aircraft shortages by using a business strategy focused on pressuring governments for lower airport charges.

In an interview with Europa Press, Puente explained that delays in aircraft deliveries are affecting the entire aviation sector due to orders failing to arrive on time. He framed the Irish airline’s recent operational decisions within this context. Between 2025 and 2026, Ryanair cut three million seats across Spain’s regional airports, whilst simultaneously adding 600,000 seats to major hubs including Madrid, Barcelona, Palma, and Malaga.

According to the minister, the budget airline is withdrawing aircraft from less profitable regional locations, such as Valladolid airport, and reallocating them to high-demand destinations with higher profit margins. He highlighted Adolfo Suarez Madrid-Barajas as an example of a highly profitable hub for the carrier despite its higher fees. Puente defended the competitiveness of airport charges in Spain, noting they remain below the European average, and praised state operator Aena as a world-class airport manager.

The long-running dispute between the government, Aena, and Ryanair escalated following recent comments by Eddie Wilson, the chief executive of Ryanair DAC. Wilson conditioned the delivery of further aircraft to Spain on a reduction in airport fees, even as the carrier prepares to receive 300 new planes.

Regarding capacity across Spanish airports, Puente acknowledged that while tourist growth is positive and figures are expected to clear 100 million visitors, infrastructure is reaching its limits, particularly in Madrid. However, he noted potential for growth during off-peak hours and stressed the importance of approving the DORA III airport regulation document for 2027–2031, which allocates 13,000 million euro in investment across the national airport network.

Addressing tourist taxes, Puente noted that municipalities like Alicante, Valencia, and Benidorm face severe pressure on local services due to huge floating populations. He argued that towns must decide how to handle these costs, adding that it is reasonable for visitors who benefit from local infrastructure, cleaning, and policing to contribute towards funding them.