Spanish airport closure

Santiago-Rosalía de Castro airport in Galicia shut to all flights on Wednesday, April 23, and is due to stay closed until May 27 while its runway is rebuilt. (aena.es) Aena said the airport is suspending aeronautical activity for 35 days so crews can carry out the most complex phase of a deep pavement regeneration project on the runway. The airport said airlines had already reorganized part of their schedules through A Coruña and Vigo. (aena.es) The runway works are part of a broader overhaul that began on January 13 and includes resurfacing, drainage upgrades, new lighting and improvements to low-visibility landing systems. Aena said the contract for the runway pavement renewal alone was awarded for more than €26.6 million, while the wider investment package totals about €33 million. (aena.es, (aena.es), (aena.es) The closure lands in the middle of late-spring travel in Santiago de Compostela, one of Spain’s best-known pilgrimage and tourism gateways. Aena said the airport handled 3,120,759 users and 24,837 flights in 2025. (aena.es, (aena.es)) The airport sits about 10 kilometers northeast of Santiago de Compostela and is the main commercial airport for much of Galicia. Aena’s airport business data says it offered 41 routes in 2025 and infrastructure sized for up to 5 million passengers. (aena.es, (aena.es)) Spain’s wider travel picture has also been unsettled this week. Spanish media and travel outlets reported petrol station unions had planned stoppages for April 30 and May 3 during the May Day holiday bridge, though reports on April 22 and April 23 said a pay deal had been reached and the strike was being called off. (thelocal.es, (majorcadailybulletin.com, (euroweeklynews.com)) For travelers with Santiago bookings, the practical change is simple: no takeoffs or landings are scheduled there before May 27, and nearby airports are absorbing part of the traffic until the runway reopens. (aena.es)