Tensions between Ryanair and Spain’s minority coalition government (PSOE–Sumar) have intensified after the Irish low-cost carrier cut several regional routes, citing what it calls ‘excessive’ airport fees. The dispute escalated further when Ryanair’s Group CEO, Michael O’Leary (main image), referred to a Spanish minister as a ‘crazy communist’.
On 16 January, Ryanair announced that it would eliminate 800,000 seats across seven regional routes in Spain by the summer, blaming ‘excessive’ fees imposed by state-owned airport operator Aena.
According to Ryanair, Aena has persisted with ‘unjustified fee increases’ despite a government decision to freeze these costs until 2026.
In response, Aena hit back, accusing the airline of employing a ‘notorious, dishonest, aggressive and threatening business and communications strategy, which it is difficult not to interpret as blackmail’.
Aena also defended its pricing, stating that its fees are among the lowest in Europe and accusing Ryanair of using ‘grandiloquent rhetoric’ to justify an attempt to operate at Spanish airports for free.
Spanish Transport Minister Oscar Puente also weighed in, urging the airline to ‘rethink its position’.
In excerpts from a letter to Ryanair CEO Eddie Wilson, published by business daily Cinco Días on Wednesday, Puente criticised Wilson’s previous communication for its ‘threatening and somewhat insolent tone’.
He further emphasised that the government determines transport policy ‘in the general interest, not for the benefit of specific companies’.
The row escalated again on Wednesday when Michael O’Leary lashed out over a separate issue – Spain’s recent decision to fine five airlines, including Ryanair, in November for ‘abusive practices’, such as charging passengers for hand luggage. ALSO READ: Spain fines Ryanair, easyJet and other low-cost airlines for ‘excessive’ hand luggage fees.
Ryanair’s share of the fine was the largest at €107.8 million.
Speaking at a news conference in Brussels, O’Leary took aim at Spanish Consumer Rights Minister Pablo Bustinduy, calling him ‘a crazy communist minister’ for penalising airlines that ‘have no choice but to restrict carry-on bags’.
O’Leary told an EFE reporter that Bustinduy ‘thinks that passengers can take as much luggage as they want. And no, no they can’t’. The historic fine has already been called a ‘stupid decision’ by Eddie Wilson and his superior O’Leary has gone so far as to label it ‘illegal’. The companies have announced that they are filing appeals with the Spanish High Court.
Bustinduy fired back, declaring that ‘no pressure, no blackmail, and no insult will stop me’ from protecting Spanish consumers against multinational corporations and powerful business figures, ‘however powerful they may be’.
This latest clash comes as Ryanair has also scaled back operations in Germany over airport fees and threatened to pull out of 10 French airports in protest against increased aviation taxes.
El fundador y presidente de Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, llama “ministro loco comunista” al ministro Pablo Bustinduy por las multas de 179 millones de euros impuestas a cinco aerolíneas de bajo coste por cobrar por el equipaje de mano.https://t.co/hbTMdwzz8S pic.twitter.com/xAhdOr2Zmi
— EFE Noticias (@EFEnoticias) January 29, 2025
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