‘Hypocrisy’ and ‘blackmail’: Ryanair’s feud with Spain

Ryanair is locked in an “ongoing feud” with Spain’s airport operator, Aena, said The Telegraph . The Irish budget airline has “slashed” a million seats on flights to the country’s “key regional routes” this winter, stopping all journeys to Jerez, Tenerife North, Valladolid and Vigo.

‘Going nuclear’

The hostile move follows Aena’s proposed 6.62% fee increase, which Ryanair has branded “excessive”. Its response has been to “go nuclear” on a selection of routes, cutting its Spain schedule by 41%. This means shutting down its two-aircraft base in Santiago, and significantly reducing capacity at Asturias, Santander, Vitoria and Zaragoza.

During the “escalating public row”, Maurici Lucena, chair and chief executive of Aena, “hit out” at Ryanair’s boss, Michael O’Leary, accusing him of “lyin