Ryanair, Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier, plans to cut services at London Stansted and Dublin, its two largest bases, this winter as it pares loss­making routes and moves aircraft to airports in continental Europe to benefit from lower charges.

Michael O’Leary, the group’s chief executive, used the capacity cuts as a weapon in his long-running battle with Stansted, which is owned by BAA, a subsidiary of Spain’s Ferrovial, and with state-owned Dublin airport, over airport fees.