06:23 AM EDT, 09/12/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Ryanair Holdings ( RYAOF ) Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said he was prepared to reduce another 1 million seats from flights to Spain next summer in an aggravating dispute with the country's airports operator over higher passenger taxes, the Financial Times reported Thursday.

O'Leary told FT that he is likely to announce the additional cutback in Madrid in two weeks' time, adding that the airline is better off flying elsewhere if the costs in regional Spain are too high.

The Irish carrier has already slashed up to 2 million seats this year as it refused to pay a 6.5% increase in charges from state-owned Spanish operator Aena. The company has reportedly called on Aena to cancel the cost increase, which amounts to about 0.68 euros ($0.80) per passenger.

O'Leary further said that of the 1 million seats taken out of regional airports, about half a million have already been redirected to Malaga and Palma, while others have gone to regional Italian destinations, according to the report.

Ryanair ( RYAOF ) currently transports more passengers to and from Spain than any other airline, FT said.

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