Santiago Airport Closes for 5 Weeks: What European Travellers Need to Know
A busy Spanish airport is shutting down for over a month of renovations, cancelling all flights and forcing thousands of travellers to rethink plans.
If you were planning to fly into Galicia this spring, your travel plans may be about to change. A busy Spanish airport is set to close tomorrow for more than a month, with all scheduled flights cancelled during the shutdown. The closure is already impacting thousands of travellers, including many Brits heading to northern Spain.
Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport Shuts for 5 Weeks
According to reports from Metro and The Sun, Santiago-Rosalía de Castro airport, which serves the pilgrimage city of Santiago de Compostela, will close for around five weeks of renovations. During this period, travellers will not be able to fly in or out of the popular Galician hub, with every scheduled flight axed for the duration of the works.
The shutdown is significant because Santiago is one of the main gateways to northwest Spain and a key arrival point for travellers walking the Camino de Santiago. With flights suspended for over a month, anyone with upcoming trips will need to find alternative routes or rebook entirely.
Wider Pressure on European Air Travel
The timing is awkward because the closure comes as European air travel is already under strain. Business Insider reports that, weeks after TSA chaos in the US, Europe is now facing its own airport line problem, with long waits expected at immigration checkpoints this summer as passport control and border checks slow things down.
On top of that, The Points Guy has flagged growing fears of a European jet fuel shortage. A global supply chain expert described the situation as "stunning" and largely unprecedented, warning that airports could literally run out of jet fuel to power planes if conditions do not improve before the peak summer season.
Alternatives: Trains, Buses and Nearby Airports
With one airport offline and broader disruption on the horizon, it makes sense to keep options open. Travellers heading to Galicia can consider flying into nearby hubs and continuing overland, or switching to trains and buses where routes exist. For those who still want a sunny Spanish escape, The Sun has spotlighted Cadiz, described as the "Cuba of Europe," with 25C weather, cheap beer under £3, and flights of under three hours from the UK.
This is exactly the kind of situation where comparing transport modes side by side pays off. On Solvoya, you can compare flight, train and bus options on a single screen, so if your flight is cancelled you can quickly see whether a train or coach gets you there instead. You can also use the Explorer to find alternative destinations on your dates, or the Points and Miles search if you prefer to redeem rather than pay cash.
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