Which Ryanair Routes Are Disappearing Across Europe in 2026?

Europe’s largest low-cost airline, Ryanair, is implementing wide-ranging Ryanair route cuts 2026 across its network. The airline has confirmed significant reductions in capacity, affecting both major cities and regional airports. The primary reason for this Ryanair capacity reduction is not falling demand. Instead, the airline cites rising airport charges, air traffic control costs, and national European aviation taxes.

Ryanair is actively moving its aircraft to countries it considers more cost-friendly. This strategy is redrawing the map for low-cost airline Europe travel. The changes will mean fewer options, reduced frequencies, and, in some cases, complete route withdrawals for passengers.

Germany: The Hardest-Hit Market

Germany is facing some of the most substantial cuts. Ryanair has confirmed that 24 routes will be removed for the winter 2025–26 season. This change cuts nearly 800,000 seats from the German market. Affected airports include Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, and Frankfurt-Hahn.

For some regions, the impact is long-term. Operations at Leipzig, Dresden, and Dortmund will remain suspended throughout all of 2026. Ryanair has been vocal about Germany’s aviation policy. It blames high air traffic control and security fees for making operations uncompetitive. The airline argues that Germany’s market is still below pre-pandemic levels. Further reductions are possible unless costs are lowered.

Spain and Portugal: Regional Airports Lose Out

Spain is also seeing deep cuts, especially in regional areas. After removing one million seats in winter 2025, Ryanair plans a further 1.2 million seat cut for summer 2026 in regional Spain.

• Complete Withdrawals: Ryanair is pulling out entirely from Asturias and Vigo.
• Base Closure: The base at Santiago de Compostela is closing.
• Canary Islands: All flights to Tenerife North have been stopped.

Ryanair criticizes Spain’s airport operator, Aena. It claims Aena applies similar fees at small, underused airports as at major hubs like Madrid and Barcelona. This makes regional airport connectivity less competitive. However, other carriers like Vueling, Iberia, and Wizz Air have reportedly stepped in on several routes.

Azores Flights Scrapped Entirely

One of the most striking decisions is in Portugal. Ryanair will end all six routes to and from the Azores from the end of March 2026. This move alone cuts around 22 per cent of Ryanair’s capacity in Portugal. It affects an estimated 400,000 passengers per year. The airline blames rising air traffic control charges imposed by airport operator ANA. It also cites EU emissions costs and a new €2 travel tax. ANA has denied these accusations, insisting that fees in the Azores remain low.

Belgium and France: Tax-Driven Reductions

Belgium is another country facing sharp cutbacks. For the winter 2026–27 season, the airline plans to remove 20 routes and around one million seats from Brussels and Charleroi. This 22 per cent reduction is linked to Belgium’s new aviation tax. The tax is set to double to €10 per passenger. Five aircraft are being removed from its Belgian bases. Destinations affected include Milan Bergamo, Barcelona, and Lisbon.

France has already seen significant cuts. Ryanair removed 750,000 seats and 25 routes from its winter 2025 programme. Services to Brive and Strasbourg remain suspended. The main issue is France’s aviation tax structure. Ryanair argues this makes regional routes financially unviable. The airline has warned that more French regional airports could lose routes next summer.

Impact on European Travellers

For passengers, the impact varies significantly. Major airports will notice little change. However, impact on European travellers in regional areas could be severe. They may lose their most affordable routes entirely. In some cases, travellers will need to connect via larger hubs. They may also need to pay higher fares on competing airlines. This shift highlights the ongoing tension between airport charges and fees and the low-cost model. Ryanair is not retreating from the market. It is simply reshuffling capacity to markets with lower costs. Stay informed on these developments and other commercial aviation news at flying.flights.

This trend underscores the need for regulatory stability. Aviation bodies like IATA often advocate for consistent, low-cost regulatory frameworks. This supports a healthy and competitive post-pandemic recovery across the continent. The Ryanair winter 2025-26 schedule changes are a clear signal to governments. Lower taxes and fees are key to attracting airline growth.