Spanish low-cost airline Vueling is ramping up flights to Tenerife North, offering nearly 900,000 seats this winter, as Ryanair slashes capacity in a dispute over airport charges.
Ryanair Seat Cuts Spark Opportunity
Ryanair confirmed last week it would cancel all flights to Tenerife and Vigo, removing around one million seats from its network. The cuts form part of a wider decision to pull two million seats from Spain’s busiest tourist routes this summer and winter.
Row Over Airport Charges
The budget giant blamed Spain’s state-owned operator Aena for a 6.5% hike in airport charges, which Ryanair has refused to pay. The disagreement has triggered a bitter public spat.
Aena CEO Hits Back
Aena chair and chief executive Maurici Lucena accused Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary of “lying continuously” about the reasons behind the cancellations. The row has escalated tensions between the airline and Spanish aviation authorities.
Vueling Steps In
With Ryanair scaling back, Vueling has confirmed a sharp 11% increase in capacity compared to 2024. The carrier is adding 89,000 seats to Tenerife North this winter alone.
Additional Routes Announced
The increase includes 25 new weekly flights, featuring 35 weekly services from Barcelona to Seville, and added capacity to Santiago, Málaga, Alicante and Valencia.
Maintaining Domestic Links
Connections to Granada, Bilbao, Asturias and Paris will remain, ensuring that domestic and short-haul European links are not affected by Ryanair’s retreat.
Strong Demand from UK Travellers
For UK holidaymakers, Vueling operates from London Gatwick and Heathrow, with one-way fares to Tenerife North averaging €85 (£73). Travel agents expect strong demand as Ryanair withdraws from the market.
Santiago de Compostela Growth
Beyond the Canary Islands, Vueling is expanding at Santiago de Compostela Airport, targeting a 15% increase in capacity and boosting flights to Spain’s popular winter sun destinations.
Iberia Express Joins Expansion
Spanish budget carrier Iberia Express will also add 30,000 seats to the Canary Islands this winter. Around 15,000 seats will serve Tenerife North, with 8,300 for La Palma.
Over 100 New Flights
The Iberia Express boost will be delivered through 115 new flights, underlining the growing competition among low-cost carriers as they capitalise on Ryanair’s retreat.
Wizz Air Increases Capacity
Hungarian airline Wizz Air has already surged its Canary Islands presence by 28% this year, adding over one million seats compared to 2024.
40 New Spanish Routes
In September, Wizz Air unveiled plans for 40 additional routes from 16 Spanish airports, scheduled between March 2025 and March 2026.
Binter Strengthens Regional Links
Regional carrier Binter is expanding connectivity within Spain, launching five weekly services from Gran Canaria and Tenerife to Seville starting December 1.
New Route to Badajoz
The airline will also introduce a twice-weekly Tenerife North to Badajoz service, providing fresh links to southwest Spain.
Canary Islands Remain Key Market
Industry analysts say the flurry of announcements confirms the Canary Islands’ status as a critical winter destination, particularly for UK and German tourists.
Competition Intensifies
With Ryanair stepping back, carriers including Vueling, Iberia Express, Wizz Air and Binter are all competing to capture market share in the Canaries.
Pressure on Ticket Prices
Travel experts believe the additional capacity will prevent a sharp rise in fares, with competition likely to keep ticket prices in check despite Ryanair’s withdrawal.
Tourism Industry Relief
Officials in Tenerife welcomed the announcement, stating that the new flights will help protect visitor numbers and prevent disruption to the local tourism economy.
Market Outlook
Aviation analysts expect the dispute between Ryanair and Aena to drag on, but believe rival airlines will continue to fill the gap, ensuring that connectivity to Spain’s islands remains resilient.