Ryanair Route Cuts 2026: Which Destinations Are Affected?

Ryanair, Europe’s largest budget airline, is implementing significant route cuts for 2026, impacting travel options across several key markets. While the airline expands in some areas, it is strategically reducing capacity in others due to a combination of factors including high operating costs, airport fee disputes and aircraft delivery delays. This article details the affected routes and the reasons behind Ryanair’s decisions.

Germany: Substantial Route Reductions

Ryanair announced in October 2025 that it would slash 24 routes to and from Germany for the Winter 2025/2026 schedule, representing a reduction of almost 800,000 seats Travel and Tour World. Nine airports are currently affected: Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne, Memmingen, Frankfurt-Hahn, Dresden, Dortmund, and Leipzig. Operations will remain suspended at Leipzig, Dresden, and Dortmund airports beyond the winter schedule.

Ryanair attributes these cuts to high air traffic control (ATC) and security fees, as well as high German aviation taxes and frequent airport changes. The airline argues that Germany’s high access costs contrast sharply with countries like Ireland, Spain, and Poland, which have no aviation taxes Travel and Tour World.

Spain: Capacity Cuts and Base Closures

Ryanair is also reducing capacity in Spain, cutting around one million seats for the Winter 2025 schedule and an additional 1.2 million seats from its Summer 2026 schedule GB News. The airline will cease all flights to Asturias and Vigo and close its base at Santiago de Compostela. Capacity will also be reduced for Santander and Zaragoza, with connections to the Canary Islands being slashed.

Flights to Tenerife North have been stopped this winter, and the Jerez base, closed this season, will remain shut in 2026. Valladolid flights have also been discontinued, with the base closed since Winter 2024. Routes from Girona will see an 11% decrease in capacity over the summer season, though a new connection to Bucharest will be added.

These cuts are attributed to disagreements with Spanish airport operator Aena over increased tax and airport fees, as well as what Ryanair describes as “illegal bag fines” imposed by the Spanish government GB News. Ryanair claims this makes regional Spanish airports less competitive compared to alternatives in Morocco and Italy.

France: Route Suspensions and Potential Further Cuts

Ryanair slashed 750,000 seats and 25 routes to France in Winter 2025, suspending services to Bergerac, Brive, and Strasbourg due to higher French airline taxes Travel and Tour World. Still, flights to Bergerac will resume in Summer 2026 following negotiations with French authorities, while services to Brive and Strasbourg remain suspended.

Ryanair cautioned that further cancellations in France are possible for 2026. The airline announced in January 2026 that it will stop operations at Clermont-Ferrand Auvergne Airport from March 27 due to environmental taxes. The Dublin-Rodez route will also be cut for 2026.

Belgium: Impact of New Aviation Tax

Ryanair has removed 20 routes and one million seats from Brussels and Charleroi for the Winter 2026/27 schedule due to a new Belgian aviation tax, which will double the charge to €10 per passenger. Charleroi may also impose local taxes Travel and Tour World. This impacts destinations like Milan-Bergamo, Barcelona, Lisbon, and Rome-Ciampino. The airline is also withdrawing five aircraft from bases in Zaventem and Charleroi.

Portugal: Cuts to the Azores

Ryanair will slash all six of its routes to and from the Azores from the end of March, affecting approximately 400,000 passengers annually. This represents a 22% reduction in Ryanair’s Portuguese capacity, impacting cities like Porto and Lisbon. The cuts are attributed to higher air traffic control fees imposed by ANA (Vinci), EU taxes like the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS), and a new €2 travel tax in Portugal.

Other Route Reductions

Ryanair will also implement reductions in Bosnia and Serbia in Summer 2026, reallocating resources to areas with growing demand, such as Croatia. Six weekly departing flights will be cut from Banja Luka, and two weekly flights will be cut from Niš. Ryanair is ending two routes between Ireland and Lithuania: Belfast to Kaunas and Dublin to Palanga, as well as Vilnius to Stockholm.