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Ryanair, the largest airline at Alicante-Elche Airport, has issued a warning about potential route cancellations due to rising AENA fees at regional airports.
Less than a month ago, the airline eliminated its Alicante-Santander connection, and now it warns that “more inevitable cuts” will come in winter if fees remain unchanged.
The Irish carrier transported over seven million passengers through Alicante-Elche in 2024 and currently bases 18 aircraft there, operating over 90 routes, including three new destinations. Despite its strong presence, Ryanair has had ongoing disputes with AENA, frequently clashing over airport fees, which it claims are uncompetitive and harm regional airports.
In a recent statement, Ryanair accused AENA of having “no plan for regional airport development,” criticizing its “high fees and poor management” for leaving smaller airports “half-empty and underutilized.”
The airline insists that unless AENA reduces costs, it will be forced to cut more routes across Spain.
HOW COULD THIS AFFECT ALICANTE-ELCHE AIRPORT?
Although Alicante-Elche is primarily an international hub, it also hosts several domestic routes. Ryanair currently flies to Barcelona, Ibiza, Lanzarote, Menorca, Palma, Santiago, Seville, Tenerife, and Vitoria from Alicante. If cuts materialize, flights to Vitoria and Santiago are at the highest risk.
Vitoria: With only six destinations and two airlines, Vitoria Airport is particularly vulnerable. If Ryanair cancels its Alicante-Vitoria route, the Basque airport could lose one of its few direct connections.
Santiago: The Alicante-Santiago route is a vital link between the Mediterranean and northwest Spain. After Vueling pulled out, only Ryanair and Alba Star remain. If Ryanair withdraws, this key connection could disappear entirely.
Other routes to larger cities like Seville, Menorca, and Lanzarote could also be affected, though their higher passenger numbers make cancellations less likely.
RYANAIR’S CRITICISM OF AENA
In its statement, Ryanair accused AENA of favouring major airports like Madrid, Barcelona, and the Canary and Balearic Islands, while neglecting regional hubs. The airline called on the Spanish government to reduce fees and stop AENA’s monopoly from damaging local tourism, employment, and connectivity.
Ryanair further hinted that rising costs could push more airline traffic out of Spain, repeating its longstanding threat of withdrawing routes if AENA continues increasing charges and prioritizing foreign investments over Spain’s regional airports.
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