Alex Cuenca

✈ Ryanair to withdraw more flights and planes from Spain's medium and small airports in summer 2026 if Aena's airport fee policy persists, warns CEO Eddie Wilson. Already cut 800,000 seats this summer, with further reductions expected for winter season and even more for summer due to "broken" regional airport price structures. Ryanair criticizes Spanish Government's and Aena's lack of a concrete airport development plan, despite the airline's appeal for a cost-reducing framework. Amidst cuts, Ryanair has increased capacity by 1.5 million seats at larger destinations like Madrid, Málaga, and Alicante.

🏠 In Las Palmas, tourism businesses and unions (CCOO and UGT) averted a strike set for April 17-18 with an agreement for progressive wage increases, job stability, and a one-time €650 payment for workers, excluding the restaurant sector. Signed by FEHT, Asofuer, Asolan, and FTL, the deal foresees over €100 million in salary and social contributions in 2025. It includes a total 5% wage hike by 2025 (2.25% planned plus 2.75% extra) and a 4% rise in 2026. New labor negotiations begin in September 2025. Meanwhile, labor disputes continue in Santa Cruz de Tenerife as FSC and other unions deem the agreed improvements insufficient.

🏡 In Baleares, a new decree was approved on Friday enforcing tougher sanctions against illegal tourism offerings; severe infractions can now incur fines up to €500,000, a 25% hike. Platforms must verify property registration numbers or face shared liability with owners. Grave fines reach €50,000; minor ones, €5,000. Offenders redirecting rentals to social housing can get an 80% fine reduction. The decree also stops creating new tourist beds in multi-family buildings across all islands and unlocks 90,000 old tourist spots for reactivation. Vox pressures excluded a high-season tourist tax hike and an emissions-based vehicle fee from the decree.

🛫 USCA and CCOO unions denounce deteriorating working conditions at Saerco-operated control towers as summer air season begins. Cuatro Vientos airport in Madrid saw controller numbers cut from 12 to 8 without replacements, against the advice of a 2024 arbitration award. Similar patterns at Vigo, Jerez, Sevilla, Lanzarote towers. Saerco imposes extra shifts instead of hiring, challenging labor regulation arbitration, causing uncertainty. CCOO blames 2010 liberalization policy for "toxic" work environment, stress, and fatigue. Unions demand public management of towers, citing UK precedent.