LONDON — Budget carriers Jet2 and Ryanair have quietly clipped their winter flight schedules, eliminating a combined 1.2 million seats across Europe and stirring new questions about how much wiggle room travelers will have if plans go awry.
What the winter cuts look like
Jet2 started the retrenchment in September, trimming 200,000 seats from its November-to-March timetable. The airline’s winter offering now stands at 5.6 million seats—still 9 percent more than last year, but meaningfully smaller than the 5.8 million seats that had been advertised during summer sales pushes. Ryanair followed last week, disclosing an 800,000-seat reduction inside Germany alone. Twenty-four routes touching nine so-called “high-cost” German airports—including Berlin, Hamburg and Memmingen—will disappear until spring. The cutbacks push the carrier’s overall German capacity below levels planned for winter 2024.
Ripple effects across Spain and France
The German moves represent only part of Ryanair’s seasonal reshuffle. Industry timetables show 36 intra-Spanish links between lesser-known regional airports and the Canary Islands are also off the board. Santiago, Tenerife North, Vitoria, Zaragoza, Asturias, Jerez and Vigo are among the airports bracing for thinner schedules. French flyers will notice the squeeze as well. Ryanair has pared frequencies at every French airport in its network; four—Strasbourg, Bergerac, Paris-Vatry and Brive—have vanished entirely from the airline’s winter route map. Béziers, while not removed, will operate at less than half of last year’s capacity.
Why the airlines are pulling back
Jet2 cited “a less certain consumer environment” when announcing its schedule revision. Ryanair, for its part, blamed sluggish Boeing deliveries and operating-cost spikes at some continental airports. Analysts add that carrier margins are typically thinner in winter, when demand bottoms out after the Christmas rush.
Fewer seats usually mean higher fares
Historical booking data show that capacity reductions of this scale can lift average ticket prices in affected markets by double-digit percentages, especially when the cuts arrive late and leave consumers few alternatives. Leisure travelers headed for winter-sun destinations—Tenerife, Lanzarote or Madeira, for example—should consider locking in tickets early or exploring secondary airports.
Insurance specialist sounds the alarm
The clamor grows louder when operational snags meet tighter schedules. “With fewer scheduled flights, airlines will have much less flexibility to rebook passengers,” Hempsted said in a statement. Her firm, price-comparison site MoneySuperMarket, reports that only 16.53 percent of its annual travel-insurance sales occur during winter despite higher disruption risks; summer accounts for 32.38 percent. Internal figures shared by the company show that overall insurance uptake drops 49 percent once the mercury plunges. Hempsted adds that winter storms, seasonal illnesses and overbooked holiday lodgings all conspire to raise the odds of a claim.
Tips for Travelers
- Book sooner, not later: With 1.2 million seats off the market, remaining inventory on popular routes will dry up quickly.
- Opt for flexible fares: Look for tickets that can be changed for free or for a modest fee; re-routing may be the only way home if your original flight disappears.
- Consider alternative airports: Some secondary European hubs—such as Girona for Barcelona or Eindhoven for Amsterdam—still enjoy healthy winter capacity.
- Take out travel insurance at the time of booking: Policies bought after an airline announces schedule cuts may exclude cancellation coverage tied to that event.
- Monitor schedules weekly: Both airlines have hinted that more tweaks are possible if booking patterns soften or aircraft delivery timelines slip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which German airports lose Ryanair service this winter?
The confirmed nine are Berlin, Hamburg, Memmingen and six others that the carrier classes as high-cost; exact airport list subject to change.
Are Jet2 flights still up year-on-year?
Yes. Even after the 200,000-seat cut, Jet2’s 5.6 million winter seats represent a 9 percent bump over winter 2023–24.
I’m flying between mainland Spain and the Canary Islands. Should I worry?
Thirty-six specific route pairs have been dropped, so check your confirmation email against updated timetables. If your flight number has vanished, contact the airline immediately for re-accommodation.
Is compensation due if my flight is canceled?
Under EU261 regulations, yes—provided the airline informs you fewer than 14 days in advance and the cancellation is within its control. Weather-related disruptions are exempt.
How late can I buy travel insurance?
Most policies can be purchased up until the day before departure, but benefits tied to cancellation kick in only once the insurance is in force.
Bottom line for winter flyers
Travelers departing from London, Düsseldorf, Lyon or any of the dozens of secondary airports touched by Jet2 and Ryanair’s cuts should double-check itineraries now, not later. Historically low winter demand gave savvy flyers room to wait for seat sales; this season that patience could backfire. Come snowstorms or aircraft glitches, a tighter schedule means longer waits for a re-route, higher walk-up fares and a stronger case for buying insurance the moment you click “book.” — as Hempsted said in a statement.
