Ryanair hopes that it can grow by 40% in Spain and create five additional bases

Eddie Wilson, the CEO of Ryanair DAC, the group's main airline, stated in Madrid on Monday that Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair aims to establish five additional bases and increase its market share in Spain by 40% by 2030.

At a tourism event, he informed reporters that the group's goal was to increase Spain's passenger flow to 77 million from the 55 million expected in 2024, but that would need competitive airport fees in Spain.

Oscar Puente, the minister of transportation, mentioned on Thursday that airport operator Aena's 4.09% price hike effective March 1st was "inexorable" and that even at that point, its rates would be lower than those prior to the 2019 pandemic.

According to Wilson, Ryanair made the decision to invest in Spain since they were confident that there wouldn't be any fee rises until 2026–2027.

"This 4% charge we think needs to be reversed, but also, we need to put in incentives in the regions of Spain, and that will drive tourist numbers 12 months in the year, not just to the beaches or the coast," he stated.

In a meeting with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on January 12, the group's CEO, Michael O'Leary, pledged to invest five billion euros over the following seven years in the Iberian nation, which is among the most visited in the world.

(Sources: investing.com, reuters.com)