Ryanair to scrap flights from popular sunny destination
Ryanair is set to scrap flights from a popular holiday hotspot ahead of the summer, in a huge blow to thousands of holidaymakers.
The Michael O’Leary-owned budget airline has already cut several flights in recent months, including the Azores, as well as flights from Ireland to popular Baltic destinations such as Palanga and Kaunas in Lithuania.
The airline has been citing costly airport fees and charges as a reason for the cuts.
Pic: Kaskip/Shutterstock
Now, Ryanair is set to scrap flights from a Spanish destination, blaming the airport’s ‘failed fee system’, according to local media.
Flights from Girona-Costa Brava Airport, in the north-east of Catalonia, will see 11% fewer seats this summer.
Ryanair spokesperson in Spain, Alejandra Ruiz, said: ‘Ryanair had ambitious growth plans for Catalonia’s regional airports, where it could have allocated a fifth aircraft to Girona, a new base in Reus, and unprecedented growth at both airports under competitive and beneficial conditions for all airlines.
Pic: YAMIL LAGE/AFP via Getty Images
‘However, we are still waiting for a response from the Spanish government, which has no plans to fix these regional airports.’
He added: ‘Our commitment to Barcelona remains strong and we will continue to grow, albeit at a more moderate pace until the airport expands.’
Separately, it comes as Ryanair this week announced its summer schedule for Germany, including the launch of two new airports, Saarbrücken and Friedrichshafen, as well as the reinstatement of 300,000 seats and 14 new routes.
Pic: Getty Images
It follows the German government’s decision to reduce the damaging aviation tax from July 2026 and freeze ATC charges.
Ryanair Head of Comms DACH, Marcel Pouchain Meyer, said: ‘We welcome the German Govt’s decision to cut the aviation tax and freeze ATC charges, which has enabled Ryanair to reinstate 300,000 seats and launch 14 new routes for Summer 26, delivering immediate benefits for regional connectivity, tourism and jobs.
‘However, despite this positive first step, Ryanair’s overall capacity in Germany for Summer 2026 remains 220,000 seats lower than Summer 2025, as high-cost airports like Berlin and Hamburg continue to fail to address their highly uncompetitive charges.
Pic: Dragos Asaftei/Shutterstock
‘Ryanair again calls on the German Govt. and Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder to scrap the aviation tax in full, cut excessive ATC and security charges by 50% and deliver competitive airport costs across Germany. If these pro‑growth reforms are implemented, Ryanair stands ready to double its German traffic to 34 million passengers annually, base 30 additional aircraft in Germany (US$3bn investment), launch over 200 new routes and create more than 1,000 high‑paid aviation jobs.’
He added: ‘Until Germany fully abolishes its anti-growth aviation tax and tackles excessive airport, security and ATC charges, Germany will continue to lose traffic, tourism and jobs to more competitive European markets.’
Meanwhile, the airline will operate a jam-packed schedule from Lublin, Poland, to six destinations, including Dublin and London, as well as Bergamo and Gdansk.
There will also be a new connection from Bournemouth to Trapani, while those travelling from Leeds Bradford have two new options with flights to Agadir and Warsaw.
The airport will see increased frequency on routes including Alicante and Faro.
Travellers flying out of Glasgow Airport will be spoilt for choice with new routes including London Stansted and Warsaw Modlin, as well as an increased frequency to Spanish hotspot Malaga.
