Ryanair plans to cut its number of flights to and from regional airports in Spain in response to a fee increase imposed by the state-controlled airport operator Aena. Eddie Wilson, chief executive of Ryanair DAC, announced that the airline will officially disclose this reduction next Wednesday. The capacity cut is expected to total approximately one million passenger seats during the upcoming winter season.

Earlier this year, Ryanair had already revealed plans to reduce its regional flight capacity by eight hundred thousand passenger seats during the summer. This move aligns with Aena’s recent decision to implement a six point five per cent increase in airport fees for airlines, which is intended to help fund the expansion of major airports in Madrid and Barcelona.

As the largest airline operating in Spain in terms of passenger numbers, Ryanair’s decision is likely to have a significant impact on regional travel. Aena has yet to respond to requests for comment regarding these developments.

Further updates will be provided following the official announcements next week, detailing the specifics of the reduced flight operations and their potential effects on regional connectivity.