Wizz Air is doubling down on its commitment to Spain by putting passengers at the centre of its expansion strategy. The airline’s Customer First Compass guides this growth, with more affordable fares, expanded networks, and stronger reliability for millions of travellers flying to and from Spain each year.
Between March 2025 and March 2026, Wizz Air has announced nearly 40 new routes across 16 Spanish airports, marking one of its biggest expansions in the country to date. Several of these connections are already operating, while others will launch in the coming months. Among the highlights is the airline’s record-breaking seat capacity between Spain and Rome, where Wizz Air has now become the leading carrier.
Record Passenger Numbers and Reliability
Wizz Air expects to offer 10 million seats from Spain in 2025 alone. Since entering the Spanish market more than 20 years ago, the airline has carried nearly 50 million passengers to and from the country.
From January to August 2025, Wizz Air operated over 29,000 flights—17.5% more than the same period in 2024—transporting 6.4 million passengers, up 22.4% year-on-year. Operational reliability also remains a cornerstone: with a 99.8% completion rate and a 16.6% improvement in punctuality, the airline continues to build passenger trust while supporting Spain’s role as one of Europe’s most visited destinations.
Focus on the Canary Islands
The Canary Islands remain a growth hub for Wizz Air. The airline currently connects Gran Canaria, Tenerife, and Fuerteventura with 15 routes to 10 destinations across five countries. In 2025 alone, Wizz Air is providing more than 1 million seats to and from the archipelago. Since launching operations there, more than 3.5 million passengers have flown with the airline, including 600,000 in the past year—reflecting a 28% increase in capacity compared with 2024.
Commitment to Spanish Travellers
“Spain has been an integral part of Wizz Air’s journey for more than two decades, and we are here to stay,” said Silvia Mosquera, Chief Commercial Officer at Wizz Air. “Our continuous growth is a clear demonstration of our commitment to Spanish customers, who can rely on Wizz Air for affordable, reliable, and personalized travel across Europe. We will keep investing, keep growing, and keep serving Spanish customers with more sustainable travel options across Europe and beyond. Let’s WIZZ!”
Ryanair Cuts Routes Amid Fee Dispute
In contrast to Wizz Air’s expansion, rival Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair is scaling back in Spain following a bitter tax dispute with state-controlled airport operator Aena. On September 3, 2025, Ryanair announced the cancellation of 36 routes across the country, accusing Aena of imposing “excessive charges” and criticising its “shameless” decision to raise airport fees by 6.6% starting in 2026.
The cuts will significantly affect regional airports:
From January 1, 2026, Ryanair will completely stop flights at Tenerife North and Vigo airports.
Routes at Jerez de la Frontera and Valladolid, already suspended earlier this year, will remain closed.
The airline will also shut down its Santiago de Compostela base, eliminating 80% of flights there.
Additional reductions will hit Zaragoza, Santander, Asturias, and Vitoria.
The decision underscores the diverging strategies of Europe’s two budget giants. While Ryanair shifts capacity to other markets, including Italy, Morocco, Croatia, Sweden, and Hungary, Wizz Air is reinforcing its footprint in Spain, presenting passengers with more choice at a time when parts of the market face turbulence.
