Ryanair and easyJet cut millions of winter seats as fuel costs soar
Key takeaways
- EasyJet has cut 1.4 million seats from its winter schedule.
- Ryanair has cut two million seats for the same winter season.
- High jet fuel costs are the main reason for both cuts.
Two of Europe's biggest budget airlines are flying less this winter. EasyJet has cut 1.4 million seats from its winter schedule. Ryanair has cut two million seats.
The reason is fuel. Jet fuel costs are still very high. Both airlines are trimming flights to save money.
Here is what we know so far.
What happened
EasyJet made its latest cut in October. The airline removed up to 700,000 more seats from its winter flights. That brings the total cut to 1.4 million seats.
EasyJet had already cut about 700,000 seats in the summer. The two cuts together cover the winter season. The winter season runs from October to the end of March.
The total cut is about 3 percent of easyJet's winter capacity. EasyJet normally offers about 50 million seats in winter. With the cuts, it will offer about 48.6 million seats.
EasyJet boss Kenton Jarvis spoke to the Financial Times about the move. He said the airline was removing 600,000 to 700,000 seats. That is about two days of flying across the whole network.
Jarvis said other airlines are cutting capacity too. He said the move was no surprise given fuel costs.
EasyJet has not published a list of affected routes. The airline has not said which flights will go. Passengers with bookings should check their flight status.
They should also watch for messages from the airline.
Ryanair is cutting even more seats. The airline will cut two million seats this winter. Reports say that could mean about 13,000 flights.
The exact routes are not confirmed yet.
Ryanair also cut 10 percent of its flights to and from Germany. That cut covers the winter months. The airline is trimming routes to summer holiday spots.
Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria are among the places affected.
Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary warned that fares will rise. He spoke at a press event in Warsaw. He said airlines cannot survive unless they pass on higher fuel costs.
He said customers will have to pay.
O'Leary said jet fuel costs are 50 percent above pre-war levels. He said costs could stay high for 12 to 18 months. He later called the situation a full-blown crisis.
Why it matters
Fuel is the big problem for airlines this winter. Fuel costs rose fast after the US-Iran conflict began. The conflict started in February.
Since then, jet fuel costs have climbed sharply.
Airlines use less fuel when they fly less. That is why they cut seats in the quiet winter months. Winter is the slow season for travel.
Airlines can trim flights and still serve most passengers.
EasyJet says it makes these changes in advance. The airline picks routes with many daily flights. That way, passengers can move to another flight.
The airline says the cuts are a tiny share of its program.
But the cuts still worry travelers. Winter trips, Christmas visits, and school holidays all depend on these flights. A cancelled flight can wreck a plan.
A rebooked flight can mean a long wait.
The wider industry is under strain too. IAG boss Luis Gallego spoke to the Financial Times. IAG owns British Airways and other airlines.
He said small and mid-size airlines will struggle this winter.
Gallego said some airlines are close to failing. He said some may disappear. That is a stark warning from a major airline boss.
The numbers show the pressure. US airlines spent $42.9 billion on fuel through the end of August. That is $13.2 billion more than in 2025.
It is a rise of about 25 percent in one year.
Delta Air Lines cut its annual profit forecast by $6 billion. The airline blamed soaring fuel costs. Its fuel costs rose 62 percent in one year.
Delta was the first major airline to report third-quarter results.
Two airlines have already failed this year. Spirit Airlines stopped flying in May. AirBaltic filed for bankruptcy.
The Iran war was named as the main reason for airBaltic's trouble.
What happens next
First, check your booking if you fly easyJet or Ryanair this winter. Look for emails or app alerts from the airline. Do not assume your flight is safe.
Do not assume it is cancelled either.
EasyJet says it has not yet named the affected routes. Ryanair has also not confirmed its full route list. That means many passengers are still waiting for news.
More details should come in the next few weeks.
If your flight is cancelled, you have options. Citizens Advice says cancelled passengers get a choice. You can take a full refund.
Or you can take a replacement flight to your destination.
The refund covers the full booking. It includes other flights from the same airline that you will not use. That means onward and return flights in the same booking are covered too.
Do not rush to rebook with a different airline on your own. Wait for your airline to cancel or rebook you first. If you rebook early, you may lose your rights.
Let the airline make the first move.
Fares are likely to rise. O'Leary said fares are going one way: up. Fewer seats can mean higher prices.
That is simple supply and demand. Book early if you must travel this winter.
EasyJet and Ryanair are not alone. Other European airlines are also cutting capacity. Wizz Air has cut its planned growth.
Lufthansa has released a smaller winter schedule. The whole market is shrinking a bit.
The winter season ends in March. Airlines hope fuel costs ease by then. For now, the message is clear.
Check your booking, know your rights, and plan early.
For more on how airlines handle disruptions, read why airlines overbook flights and how bumping works. For delays on the day, see what flight delay announcements really mean. For route news from the US, see why American Airlines dropped three destinations.
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