Ryanair cuts Spain routes, reduced frequency on Malta-Madrid route

[Clarified at 11:44am: Ryanair will reduce frequency of Malta flight, not scrap it].

Ryanair will reduce the frequency of its Malta route to Madrid next winter, as part of 15 route cuts to the Spanish capital and Barcelona El Prat following the Spanish government's decision to double taxes at the two airports.

The low-cost airline is also reducing the frequency of flights to the two cities, including services between Barcelona and Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Liverpool.

"Ryanair objects to the Spanish government's decision to double airport taxes at both Madrid and Barcelona airports," Michael O'Leary, Ryanair chief executive, said in a statement.

"Sadly, this will lead to severe traffic, tourism and job cuts at both airports this winter. Ryanair cuts are the unavoidable response to the government's doubling of airport taxes at both Madrid and Barcelona El Prat airports. These extortionate tax increases are particularly damaging to Spanish tourism, jobs and the economy at a time when Spanish youth unemployment stands at an alarming 50%."

O'Leary said the cuts will cause a combined loss of 2.3 million passengers and over 2,000 jobs at Madrid and Barcelona El Prat airports.

The reductions to services - which will amount to 492 fewer flights each week - will be made from November.