Ryanair is poised to make significant cuts to its flight network in 2026, withdrawing services from a host of popular European holiday destinations. The budget carrier confirmed it will slash routes across France, Spain, Germany, and Portugal, citing increased aviation taxes and rising airport charges as the primary reasons.
Major cuts across continental Europe
The airline's retrenchment will impact travellers heading to summer hotspots and regional airports. In France, Ryanair will completely withdraw from several regional airports in the summer of 2026, having already scrapped 25 routes and 750,000 seats to the country last year. Services to Bergerac, Brive, and Strasbourg were previously axed, and while Bergerac may see a return in summer 2026, further cancellations are anticipated.
Jason McGuinness, Ryanair's Chief Commercial Officer, told business publication Challenges that the airline "will leave French regional airports in the summer of 2026." Specific details on other affected French airports remain undisclosed.
Germany and Portugal face route reductions
The airline's winter 2025/26 schedule for Germany will see 24 routes cut, resulting in roughly 800,000 fewer seats. Nine airports have already been impacted, including Hamburg, Berlin, and Cologne. Services from Leipzig, Dresden, and Dortmund airports are set to remain suspended after the winter timetable. Ryanair blames steep German aviation taxes, high air traffic control charges, and ongoing airport alterations.
In Portugal, all six routes serving the Azores will be terminated from 29th March 2026. The airline attributes this decision to excessive airport fees and a 120% surge in ATC costs, which it says the Portuguese government has failed to address.
Spain hit with the most significant changes
The most extensive cuts are reserved for Spain. After removing one million seats from its 2025 winter schedule, Ryanair now plans to cut a further 1.2 million seats from the 2026 summer schedule for regional Spain.
All services to Asturias and Vigo will cease, and the airline will shut its operational base at Santiago de Compostela. Capacity will be reduced at Santander and Zaragoza, and connections to the Canary Islands will be axed. The carrier has already suspended all Tenerife North flights this winter and closed its base at Jerez airport, which will stay shut for the rest of the year.
Ryanair has criticised the Spanish government for imposing what it calls "illegal bag fines" alongside rising airport charges, mirroring its complaints in other markets. The series of cuts represents a substantial reshaping of the airline's European network, with passengers urged to check their travel plans for 2026 carefully.
