Ryanair Cuts 700,000 Seats and 12 European Routes for Summer 2026

Ryanair scraps 12 holiday routes and 700,000 seats as CEO Michael O'Leary warns of Strait of Hormuz fuel crisis hitting summer travel.

European budget travel just got a major shake-up. Ryanair has announced it is cutting 700,000 seats and axing 12 European holiday routes ahead of summer 2026, as CEO Michael O'Leary issued a stark warning about jet fuel prices linked to the Strait of Hormuz situation. The move comes amid mounting concerns across the aviation industry about Middle East-driven supply disruptions affecting flights across Europe and Asia.

Ryanair Pulls Back on Berlin, Greece and Italy Routes

According to LADbible, Ryanair's latest schedule changes will see the low-cost giant remove 700,000 seats from its summer programme, with 12 holiday routes affected. Destinations including Berlin, Greece and Italy are among those impacted by the cuts. For travellers who had Ryanair pencilled in as their cheap summer escape, this means fewer options and likely higher prices on the routes that remain.

Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's outspoken CEO, has separately issued a Strait of Hormuz warning over summer airline fuel prices. The strait is one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints, and any disruption there ripples directly into jet fuel costs — and ultimately, into the price of your ticket.

A Wider Fuel Crisis Looming Over European Skies

Ryanair's announcement does not exist in a vacuum. CNBC reports that oil executives have warned the Iran-linked supply disruption in the Middle East will soon cause actual fuel shortages in some parts of the world, threatening summer travel across both Asia and Europe. Jet fuel shortages translate quickly into cancelled routes, reduced frequencies, and pricier fares as airlines scramble to protect margins.

The pressure is already being felt at Europe's biggest hubs. China Daily reports that Heathrow Airport has seen passenger declines attributed to "short-term adjustments to travel plans" caused by the ongoing impact of the Middle East conflict. In fact, Istanbul Airport now looks set to overtake Heathrow as Europe's busiest hub in the coming months — a remarkable shift in the European aviation landscape.

What This Means for Your Summer Trip

If you were planning to fly to Berlin, Athens, Rome or other Ryanair holiday hotspots this summer, now is the moment to lock in your plans. With capacity shrinking and fuel costs threatening to push fares higher, waiting could cost you. It is also a good time to consider alternatives: trains and long-distance buses across Europe are not exposed to jet fuel prices in the same way, and on many city pairs they are now genuinely competitive on time and price.

That is exactly why we built Solvoya — to compare flights, trains and buses across Europe in a single search, so you can pivot quickly when airlines change their plans. If your Ryanair route disappears, the train or bus alternative is often a click away.

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Flying to Italy or Greece instead? Try Rome (FCO) or Athens (ATH). Not sure where to go this summer? Our Explorer helps you discover destinations by price, and if you prefer to travel on points, our Points and Miles search shows you award availability across major airline programmes.