A Spanish airline has offered to take over Ryanair’s scrapped flight routes to minimise the impact of huge service reductions.
Volotea promised to serve regional airports in Spain that were impacted by Ryanair’s announcement, including Valladolid and Jerez airport, which Ryanair will reportedly withdraw from completely.
The firm also offered its help as a medium-term solution at Asturias, Vigo, Santiago, Zaragoza and Santander, which could begin next Summer.
Volotea CEO Carlos Muñoz said: “If Ryanair leaves regional airports, no one should worry because Volotea is there. We have very little room for manoeuvre this summer but we could take routes from Ryanair next summer.”
Ryanair will reduce flights to Spain by 18% this year, equivalent to around 800,000 seats, which it attributed to high airport charges and lack of growth incentives.
During the summer of 2025, Santiago will receive one less aircraft, and traffic will be cut at five other regional airports — Vigo (-61%), Santiago (-28%), Zaragoza (-20%), Asturias (-11%), and Santander (-5%)
Volotea currently operates from two bases in Spain, Asturias and Bilbao, and looks to open two more over the next five years, which could connect regional bases with other airports in Spain and Europe.
Muñoz contacted airport operator Aena following Ryanair’s announcement, which he thanked for helping develop airports with less than three million passengers per year.
He commented: “There are times when it is the local authorities that really facilitate the implementation of capacity.”
Speaking about the Ryanair service reduction, CEO Eddie Wilson said: “Excessive airport charges and lack of workable growth incentives continue to undermine Spain’s regional airports, limiting their growth and leaving vast swathes of airport’s capacity underutilised.”