12 million passengers milestone reached
Ryanair has transported its 12 millionth passenger through Reus Airport since the airline began operations there in 2003, the company confirmed on Thursday, 25 September 2026. The milestone was symbolically marked with the arrival of a flight from Dublin, during which one of the passengers was recognised as the 12 millionth to travel to or from the airport with the carrier. Ryanair has operated at Reus for over two decades, contributing significantly to regional connectivity and tourism on the Costa Daurada and across the Tarragona province.
Summer 2026 expansion with 6% capacity increase
Starting in March 2026, Ryanair launched a modest expansion of its operations at Reus Airport, increasing capacity by approximately 6% compared to 2025. The airline now operates 12 international routes across five countries, the UK, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands, with around 70 weekly flights. During peak summer months, additional frequencies have been added to key routes from Dublin, Shannon, Liverpool, and Manchester to meet higher tourist demand. The expanded schedule supports over 727,000 annual passengers through the airport, according to Ryanair.
Ryanair wants to grow at regional Catalan airports, but Aena's airport tax system is undermining Reus's potential to expand beyond peak season.
Despite the growth, Ryanair has attributed the limited scale of expansion to Aena's airport charges, which it describes as uncompetitive for regional airports. The airline had previously proposed establishing a new operational base at Reus to boost off-season activity, but said the plan was not viable due to high fees and lack of incentives.
Tourism and economic impact
Ryanair links its presence at Reus to broader economic benefits, including increased international tourism, employment, and business activity in the region. British and Irish travellers remain the dominant passenger group, accounting for 86% of traffic in 2025, according to data from diarimes.com. Reus Airport closed 2025 with 1,336,826 passengers, a 13.1% increase from 2024 and the highest figure since 2011. Projections for 2026 indicate continued growth, with around 10% more seats available across airlines this summer, supported by additional routes from carriers like easyJet to Newcastle, Bristol, and Gatwick. Local officials, including Reus mayor Sandra Guaita and Tarragona provincial president Noemí Llauradó, have welcomed the growth but stressed the need for further market diversification and de-seasonalisation to reduce reliance on a few key markets.
Primary sources: aena.es. Reported by diarimes.com, reusdigital.cat, diaridetarragona.com, ultimahora.es, airserviceone.com, docslib.org.
