Ryananair cancelled more fares last week, having already slashed certain Spanish routes. It announced that it’s Germany capacity will be reduced by 800,000 seats this winter, with 24 routes across nine high-cost German airports including Berlin, Hamburg, and Memmingen cut.
Jet2 and Ryanair are axing a combined 1.2 million airline seats this winter, leading to fears that travellers may face significant disruption.
The budget airlines have both announced that they’re cutting back on certain routes.
In September, Jet2 said it would have to cut 200,000 seats, from 5.8m to 5.6m, over the winter season because of “a less certain consumer environment” – this is despite viral success of its advertising campaing featuring Jess Glynn. The seat cut brings Jet2 to 5.6 million fares for the upcoming winter season, although this will still be 9% higher than a year earlier.
Ryanair cancelled more fares last week, having already slashed certain Spanish routes. It announced that it’s Germany capacity will be reduced by 800,000 seats this winter, with 24 routes across nine high-cost German airports including Berlin, Hamburg, and Memmingen cut. As a result, Ryanair’s overall capacity in Germany will fall below winter 2024 levels.
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Among the airports set to be impacted by the 1.2 million airline seat cull are Santiago, Tenerife North, Vitoria, Zaragoza, Asturias, Jerez, Vigo and 36 connections between regional Spain and the Canary Islands.
France has also been hit. Ryanair has dropped capacity at every French airport they operate with four airports essentially being wiped off their network map: Strasbourg, Bergerac, Paris-Vatry and Brive. While others, such as Béziers, have lost over half of their capacity season-on-season.
In light of this, Alicia Hempsted, travel insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, is warning Brits to consider one key thing ahead of the busy holiday season – travel insurance.
“With fewer scheduled flights and limited seat availability, airlines will have much less flexibility to rebook passengers when there are delays or cancellations. As a result, more Brits may need to rely on their travel insurance to cover unexpected costs and disruptions,” she said.
“Flight cancellations are also likely to push seat prices higher due to reduced availability. That’s why having the right travel insurance in place is more important than ever – helping you avoid steep, last-minute expenses and giving you peace of mind from the moment you book.”
According to internal data from MoneySuperMarket, winter travel insurance uptake decreases by a 49%, with purchases dropping significantly during the winter months compared to summer, with only 16.53% of total insurance sales occurring in winter months, compared to 32.38% in summer.
Alicia added: “There are plenty of scenarios during the winter months that can increase the chances of needing to make a travel insurance claim. From weather-related cancellations and seasonal illnesses to overbooked accommodation during peak periods, the risks are higher than usual.
“That’s why it’s always best to secure the right travel insurance as soon as your holiday is confirmed. It gives you protection from the moment you book and helps avoid costly surprises later—so you can enjoy your winter break with confidence and peace of mind.”