Wizz Air launches 5 new Spanish routes from the UK – but not everyone is happy

Metro

30-07-2025

Wizz Air has announced five new routes from London to some of Spain's most popular destinations.
Launching in March 2026, the airline will run flights from Luton Airport to Bilbao, Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, and Seville. Fares start from as little as £17.99 one way.
While this is great news for budget-conscious travellers, it's no secret that Spain is currently grappling with the effects of overtourism. Barcelona and Madrid — two of the cities on the list — have seen full-throated anti-tourist protests since last year.
Much has been said about the role of short-term holiday platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO in all of this. Cruise ships have also come under fire.
But do airlines play a part in overloading destinations with visitors, too?
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Jaroslaw Grabczak, Head of Commercial Product at Thomas Cook and eSky Group online travel agency, says that while much of the overtourism debate focuses on short-term rentals and cruise ships, airlines play an equally critical – and often overlooked – role in overcrowding.
'The rapid growth of air travel, particularly driven by low-cost carriers like Wizz Air and Ryanair, funnels huge volumes of visitors into already saturated destinations,' he tells Metro.
Grabczak says that this creates pressure on local infrastructure, housing, and the social fabric of communities.
As for how to rectify the problem, he urges the industry to move beyond outdated measures, such as basing the popularity of a place on the number of visitors.
Instead, he says the focus should be on longer stays and deeper cultural engagement: 'Close collaboration is needed between airlines, online travel agencies and local governments to grow demand in a way that benefits communities.'
Marta Moya, a PR director who works with the Spanish Tourism Board, says the dream is for every player in the travel industry to do their bit.
'Our preference is for airlines to focus on launching new routes to lesser-known Spanish destinations,' she tells Metro.
Marta says they would like to see more people travelling during off-peak periods, such as shoulder season — the months directly before and after summer.
She says travelling off-season guarantees a more authentic experience and a glimpse into what life is like in a place, beyond summer.
A Wizz Air spokesperson tells Metro that, as an ultra-low-cost airline, its mission is to make travel accessible for everyone. This means keeping fares low and 'opening up opportunities to discover new places and enjoy local cultures.'
They explain that over 800 routes across more than 50 countries are available: 'By offering direct connections to multiple cities beyond tourist hotspots, we not only provide passengers with the choice and flexibility when planning their trips, but also boost local economies through increased demand for services, creating jobs and supporting local businesses.'
The spokesperson — who also notes that Wizz Air doesn't operate flights to destinations where there are existing train connections that take less than six hours — says the airline encourages its customers to travel when it's less busy.
They continued: 'We encourage travellers to consider travelling during off-peak periods and explore off-the-beaten-track destinations to get the most authentic and affordable experiences.'
Short-term holiday lets and cruise ships have long been accused of destroying destinations and pricing locals out of their homes.
Moves have been made to stop them. Earlier this year, Madrid City Council temporarily suspended the granting of new short-term rental licenses. This rule will be in effect until February 2026.
As for cruise ships, Barcelona's mayor last year announced plans to increase the tourist tax for day-trippers who visit the city for 12 hours or less.
In terms of holiday rentals, Christian Petzold, Best of Barcelona Travel Director, says there is now concern about a drop in tourism due to soaring hotel rates.
He said the restriction on Airbnbs and new building projects are partly to blame.
'Airbnb helps to equalise income from accommodation spending, because many owners are renting out their second or third apartment for this. But, they still live in the communities and spend their money here,' he says.
Instead of imposing further restrictions, Petzold believes tourist cities should expand their Airbnb licences into surrounding areas: 'This would mean less-central neighbourhoods could benefit from tourism, too.'
Combined with improved public transport and a smarter distribution of holiday rental licenses, he argues that the new Wizz Air flights could be an opportunity to create a more balanced tourism model.
All five routes will launch on March 29, 2026. This gives travellers the chance to bag cheap flights both during the shoulder season and peak summer. More Trending
There will be five flights per week to Bilbao and Valencia, four to Seville, and 10 flights to Barcelona. The Madrid route will operate daily.
Yvonne Moynihan, Managing Director at Wizz Air UK, said the airline is 'excited to announce not one, but five new Spanish routes' from its base at London Luton Airport.
While some airlines 'stick to siestas,' she said Wizz Air is bringing 'serious competition' with low fares and a high-efficiency model.
Moynihan added that these new flights will make travel 'accessible and affordable to all.'
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