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Ryanair scaling back as flights to these European airports cut

The budget airline is making some major changes to popular destinations like Spain and Portugal

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Ryanair is scaling back its Spanish and Portuguese flights in 2026(Image: GETTY)

Ryanair is scaling back its Spanish and Portuguese service offerings in 2026 with some routes being outright cancelled while others will have their flight numbers cut back. With the conflict in the Middle East already disrupting travel for some, passengers may find they have even more limited options when heading abroad.

Smaller regional airports in the two European destinations will be hard hit by Ryanairs route changes while larger airports and transport hubs may escape unscathed. In total, its estimated millions of seats will be cut back with the airline attributing these cutbacks to airport charges.

This also follows a number of cuts to Ryanairs European routes in the 2025/2026 winter season.

[Person waiting for their flight]

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Travellers may find less options when heading to certain European destinations(Image: GETTY)

Spain

Major travel hubs like Madrid, Barcelona and Mlaga are expected to continue operating as usual according to The Portugal News. However, regional airports will be hit including Valladolid and Jerez which are expected to see reductions.

Tenerife North will be losing its remaining service while Asturias and Vigo will be the most affected by Ryanair withdrawing routes. Santiago de Compostela will also lose its Ryanair base which usually preludes a reduction in flights.

Other airports like Santander, Zaragoza and Vitoria are expected to see fewer departures as well. This could have a knock-on effect for people trying to connect through to the Canaries.

After axing one million seats from its winter 2025 Spanish routes, these additional cuts could take away another 1.2 million seats from the summer.

Portugal

From the end of March, Ryanair has stopped its six routes to and from Azores. This will affect around 400,000 passengers each year according to The Portgual News.

Ryanair attributed this cutback to airport charges set by Portugals airport operator, environmental taxes linked to the EU Emissions Trading System and the countrys 2 travel tax.

The budget airline urged the Portuguese government to intervene stating: "The Portuguese Govt. must intervene and ensure that its airports, which are a critical part of national infrastructure especially in an island economy like the Azores are used to benefit the Portuguese people, rather than benefitting a French airport monopoly."

[Plane landing at an aiport]

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The announcement follows flight cuts in the 2025/2026 winter schedule(Image: GETTY)

Ryanair services to and from major Portuguese airports like Faro, Lisbon and Porto are expected to continue.

These route cuts arrived as Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary predicted toITV News that European carriers would start reducing services unless the conflict in the Middle East ended before May.

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