Ryanair, the largest airline operating at GRO, running more flights than any other carrier, announced a reduction of flights to a popular Spanish airport, Girona-Costa Brava Airport (GRO), from the upcoming summer.
Ryanair reduces flight operations
The Irish budget airline’s move to cut its flights to Girona came after the airport operator, Aena, decided to increase the airport fees by 10% since 2024.
Following this, flights from GRO in the Costa Brava region will decline this summer for the first time since pre-COVID-19.
Flight capacity at GRO, a major Ryanair hub, is set to reduce by 11% this summer. The hub is often used as an alternative connection for travel to Barcelona.
Alejandra Ruiz, Ryanair spokesperson in Spain, said:
“While Ryanair also aims to grow at Catalan regional airports, Aena’s flawed airport charges system is hindering Reus’s potential for off-season growth and impacting Girona’s capacity, which will decrease this summer for the first time since the pre-COVID period.”
Ryanair will now operate flights on 34 routes to 13 countries from Girona, including a new destination, Bucharest.
Aena increases airport fees
Airport operator, Aena has already increased the airport fee for GRO in 2024 and sent a proposal to increase it further by 21% by 2031.
After the airport provider’s plan to increase the airport fee, the airline urged the Ministry of Transport and the Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC, National Markets and Competition Commission) to reject Aena’s proposal to attract growth for airlines across the country. They claim that they are willing to extend their operations in Girona, provided costs are lower and more competitive.
The airline had plans for a fifth aircraft based in Girona and presented the plans to Spanish President Pedro Sánchez, but they were shelved after an increase in airport fees.
Before reducing the flight operations to Girona the airline has already removed more than 1.2 million seats from its Spanish flights schedule as they continue to battle regional airport fees.
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