After a month-long closure for essential runway repairs, Santiago de Compostela Airport in northern Spain has finally reopened. The airport, a popular gateway for tourists visiting the European Union holiday hotspot, resumed operations on May 27, 2026.
The closure, announced by Spanish airport operator AENA back in April, led to the cancellation of all flights, including those operated by Ryanair. The low-cost carrier typically runs flights three times a week from London Stansted, London Gatwick, and London Heathrow to Santiago de Compostela. During the closure, passengers were advised to contact their airlines for information on flight status, schedule changes, or rebooking options.
AENA stated: '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 traffic, and no takeoffs or landings will take place.'
This disruption came amid ongoing frustrations for Ryanair passengers traveling to and from Spain. Last month, Ryanair renewed its call for the Spanish government to postpone the implementation of the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES) until after the peak summer travel season. The airline argued that the system is not ready for full rollout, causing excessive queues at passport control.
Ryanair's Chief Operations Officer, Neal McMahon, highlighted the issue: 'It makes no sense that countries, like Spain, are continuing to implement the EU’s new Entry/Exit System (EES) when they are clearly not ready to do so. As a result of this half-baked system roll out, passengers are being forced to endure excessive passport control queues, and in some cases, missing flights.'
McMahon noted that during the May Bank Holiday weekend, passengers faced hour-long queues at passport control, which is particularly problematic given that Ryanair's average flight time is about one hour and 15 minutes. 'Some passengers are spending as much time waiting at passport control than they spent on the flight that got them there,' he added.
Ryanair is urging the Spanish government to suspend the EES until September, citing EU Regulation 2025/1534, which allows for such a delay. The airline believes this would provide a smoother airport experience for passengers during the summer holidays.
With the reopening of Santiago de Compostela Airport, flights from the UK are expected to resume shortly, offering relief to travelers planning trips to the historic city and the surrounding region of Galicia.
