Home » AIRLINE NEWS » Spain Takes Over European Skies: New Flights from Iberia, EasyJet, and Delta Set to Dominate While Ryanair Retreats – What This Means for Travelers!
Published on
September 23, 2025
Spain’s air travel industry is witnessing significant shifts as airlines make adjustments to meet the evolving demands of passengers and the changing dynamics of the aviation market. While low-cost carriers like Ryanair are scaling back operations, full-service airlines including Iberia, Vueling, Delta Air Lines, and others are actively expanding their offerings to fill the gaps left behind. This reconfiguration is reshaping Spain’s domestic and international air connectivity as airlines respond to competition, profitability concerns, and airport costs.
The changes reflect a complex strategy being employed by airlines, with some reducing their presence in regional markets, while others are boosting their capacity to cater to new opportunities. The new winter season and upcoming 2026 schedules are key factors driving these developments.
Ryanair’s Withdrawals: A Setback for Regional Airports
Ryanair, a dominant player in the low-cost carrier sector, has recently made the decision to pull back from several important regional airports in Spain. The airline is withdrawing from Vigo and Tenerife Norte, cutting multiple connections to major cities including London, Alicante, Madrid, Sevilla, and Barcelona. These withdrawals are set to take effect from October 2025, and additional cuts will follow in summer 2026, including routes to Brussels, Dublin, Ibiza, and others.
Ryanair‘s decision to withdraw from these markets, including its reductions in services to Gran Canaria and the Canary Islands, has been attributed to rising airport charges and increased operating costs. The carrier announced it would reduce its capacity by approximately 1 million seats in Spain, signaling the airline’s cautious approach to high-cost airports and a possible shift in focus toward more profitable routes.
Competitors Step In: Expanding Capacity to Meet Demand
With Ryanair pulling out, several competing carriers are stepping in to capture the market share that is being left behind. Vueling, part of the IAG Group like Iberia, is expanding its services with an additional 1.5 million seats. New routes and increased frequencies are expected to take place on key routes like Santiago and Tenerife Norte throughout the winter 2025 season. Iberia Express, Binter, Volotea, and Wizz Air are also increasing the number of flights available to fill the gap created by Ryanair’s withdrawal, offering more options for both local and international travelers.
New International Routes to Strengthen Spain’s Global Air Connectivity
The drive for expansion goes beyond regional travel, with many airlines now introducing new international routes to Spain. These routes will serve as gateways for passengers traveling to North America, Latin America, and Asia, further connecting Spain to the world.
Iberia’s Long-Haul Expansion
Iberia, Spain’s flagship airline, is significantly growing its long-haul network with the launch of three new international routes:
- Madrid to Orlando: Starting on October 26, 2025, Iberia will offer four weekly flights to Orlando, Florida, using its Airbus A330 aircraft. This new route caters to the growing demand for both tourism and business travel to Florida.
- Madrid to Recife: Starting December 13, 2025, Iberia will launch three weekly flights between Madrid and Recife, Brazil, further expanding its presence in South America.
- Madrid to Fortaleza: On January 19, 2026, Iberia will introduce three weekly flights to Fortaleza, Brazil, providing more options for travelers heading to this bustling northeastern hub of Brazil.
These new services are a clear reflection of Iberia’s commitment to strengthening its global reach and providing more connectivity to North America and South America.
Delta Air Lines Expands to Madrid
Delta Air Lines is also increasing its presence in Spain with the addition of a new route between Madrid and Boston. This new daily service will begin on May 17, 2026, using Airbus A330-900neo aircraft. The introduction of this route is part of Delta’s broader strategy to connect Spain with key cities in North America.
Turkish Airlines Expands at Sevilla
Turkish Airlines has added a daily flight from Sevilla to Istanbul, further strengthening Spain’s connection to Asia and the Middle East. Turkish Airlines is positioning its Sevilla base as a key entry point for travelers connecting through Istanbul, offering enhanced options for passengers traveling from Spain to Asia.
AJet, a subsidiary of Turkish Airlines, is also expanding its network with new direct routes from Ankara to Madridand Barcelona in late October 2025. These services will run three and four times a week, respectively, offering more connections between Turkey and Spain.
European and Domestic Routes See Growth
In addition to long-haul expansions, several other airlines are introducing or expanding European and domestic routes from Spain.
Air Europa Expands in Europe
Air Europa, the Spanish subsidiary of Globalia, is launching a new route from Madrid to Geneva, starting June 19, 2026, with two daily flights operated by Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This expansion is designed to meet increasing demand for both business and tourist travel between Spain and Switzerland.
EasyJet Expands for Winter 2025–26
EasyJet, a major low-cost carrier, is also expanding its network for the winter season 2025–2026. New routes will be launched from Spanish airports like Málaga, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, and Almería, offering services to popular destinations in the United Kingdom and France.
SkyUp Connects Alicante with Moldova
SkyUp, a Ukrainian airline, is introducing direct flights from Alicante to Chişinău, marking the first-ever connection between Costa Blanca and Moldova. This route will bring more travelers from Eastern Europe to the Spanish coast, enriching the region’s tourism market.
Growing Links to Asia: Korean Air’s New Routes
Korean Air is testing demand for Asia-Spain travel by operating four charter flights between Málaga and Seoul in October and November 2025. These flights will use Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and are marketed as part of a package deal by Hanjin Travel. The addition of this route is significant as it marks one of the few direct links between Southern Spain and East Asia.
Wizz Air’s Year-Round Service
Wizz Air has announced the transformation of its seasonal Santander–Bucharest route into a year-round service, starting in October 2025. This decision ensures consistent air connectivity between Northern Spain and Romania, meeting growing demand for travel between the two regions.
The Growing Spanish Air Market
The Spanish air market is increasingly diverse, with both low-cost and legacy carriers working to meet the demands of modern travelers. Ryanair’s reduction in capacity may have left gaps, but the expansion by carriers like Iberia, Vueling, Delta, and Turkish Airlines is filling the void, ensuring that Spain remains well-connected to key regions across Europe, North America, Latin America, and Asia.
Conclusion: The Future of Spain’s Aviation Market
Spain’s air connectivity landscape is rapidly evolving, with new routes and expanded services on the horizon. Iberia, Delta, Turkish Airlines, EasyJet, and others are all positioning themselves to capitalize on the growing demand for both regional and international travel. As competition intensifies and airlines adjust their strategies for the 2025–2026 seasons, Spain’s aviation market is set to continue its expansion, offering more travel options for both domestic and international passengers.
