The airport will be closed to all air traffic, with no take-offs or landings permitted – and comes as other sites hit by strikes
A major Spanish airport is set to close for five weeks this spring while vital runway maintenance is carried out. Santiago-Rosalia de Castro airport in northern Spain will shut from 23 April toA 27 May for runway resurfacing works.
During this period, the airport will be completely closed to all air traffic, with no departures or arrivals permitted. Airport operator Aena confirmed: “Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport will be closed from 23 April to 27 May 2026 for runway resurfacing works. During this period, the airport will be closed to all air traffic, and no takeoffs or landings will take place.”
They added: “If you have any questions about your flight status, schedule changes, or possible rebooking, we recommend contacting your airline.”
Situated near Santiago de Compostela, the airport is the busiest in Galicia and the second-busiest across northern Spain. A number of well-known carriers operate from the hub, including Ryanair and Vueling, with hundreds of flights expected to be disrupted during the May half-term period — a particularly busy time for families jetting off on holiday.
Travellers with upcoming bookings are being urged to check with their airlines regarding any schedule changes or alternative arrangements, as the closure is likely to cause considerable inconvenience for passengers throughout the five-week shutdown. Separately, travellers across Spain are experiencing considerable difficulties as airport workers have launched an “indefinite” strike nationwide. Ground handling personnel have been engaged in industrial action at 12 key airports, including Barcelona, Madrid, Alicante, Palma, Ibiza, Malaga and the Canary Islands since 30 March. Employees from Groundforce and Menzies are protesting over an outstanding pay dispute.
Spanish airport operator Aena announced in a statement: “Groundforce staff have called an indefinite strike starting 30 March. Partial work stoppages will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during three time slots: 5-7am, 11am-5pm, and 10pm-midnight. Please contact the airline to find out the status of your flight.”
In related developments, an organisation representing British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, UPS and Virgin Atlantic has issued a serious warning to Government ministers regarding summer holidays. According to ITV News, Airlines UK has suggested to passengers ‘you can forget your holidays’, as reported by Good Morning host Susanna Reid.
The correspondence sent to ministers and the Civil Aviation Authority urges the Government and regulatory bodies to amend regulations to reduce passenger duty, permit additional night flights, and eliminate compensation for cancelled or delayed flights. Presenter Susanna warned viewers: “You can forget about your summer holidays. That is the stark warning issued to some air passengers hoping to fly abroad this year. With the war in Iran doubling the price of jet fuel, airlines say they face having to increase fairs or cut flights altogether.”
Co-host Ed Balls continued: “UK operators are now calling on the government to bring in emergency measures. In a confidential letter seen by ITV News, they’re asking for help to protect fuel supplies, reduce taxes on tickets, and waive strict rules. on compensating passengers.”
According to ITV, airlines are pressing the government to intervene in order to safeguard business travel, leisure flights and cargo operations from the financial impact of the Middle East conflict. A confidential briefing document submitted to government ministers and the Civil Aviation Authority, which ITV News has obtained, cautions that should the disruption “continues or worsens,” carriers will have no choice but to reduce their flight schedules and increase ticket prices.
The document comes from Airlines UK, the trade body representing major carriers including British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, UPS and Virgin Atlantic. It highlights that jet fuel costs have doubled, with fuel representing approximately one third of an airline’s total operating expenses. Correspondent Nick Dixon said: “Airlines will be forced to cut flights and push up fares.”
The document, from Airlines UK, which represents British Airways, easyJet, Jet2, Loganair, Ryanair, TUI, UPS and Virgin Atlantic, warns that jet fuel costs have doubled, with fuel accounting for around a third of airline operating costs.
Correspondent Nick Dixon said: “Firstly, they want to relieve or reduce air passenger duty to help bring down the cost of travel generally and holidays during this period. Allow for nighttime flights to keep things moving if the schedules are disrupted, and also to scrap compensation for cancelled or delayed flights caused by fuel shortages. All of that, of course, would have a huge impact. on passengers.
“What most passengers want to know is, will my holiday flight be affected? It may well be that if the airlines win concessions from the government that we start to see some tactical flight cancellations of what would otherwise be loss-making departures. Well, the Department for Transport has said that it’s continuing to work with fuel suppliers, with airlines, and international counterparts on our contingency emergency planning to ensure that people keep moving and businesses are supported while the conflict is ongoing.”
The Department for Transport said: “We continue to work with fuel suppliers, airlines and international counterparts on our contingency planning, to ensure people keep moving and businesses are supported while the conflict is ongoing.”
