Lorraine Williamson
Travellers heading to Galicia are being warned to plan ahead after Aena confirmed that Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport will close to all air traffic for more than a month this spring.
The airport will be completely closed from 23 April to 27 May 2026 for runway resurfacing works. During that period, there will be no take-offs or landings at Santiago, meaning passengers will need to use alternative airports or reroute their journeys.
Why the airport is closing
The closure is linked to major runway renovation works at Galicia’s busiest airport. Aena says the resurfacing is necessary to improve the airport’s infrastructure and maintain safe operations.
The timing, however, will coincide with a busy travel period in Galicia. Late April and May are popular months for the Camino de Santiago, city breaks, family visits and early-season tourism in northern Spain. Santiago is also a major access point for pilgrims finishing the Camino and for travellers heading into rural Galicia.
No flights during the closure
Aena’s notice is clear: Santiago airport will be closed to all air traffic during the works. That means passengers with flights during the affected period should check directly with their airline rather than assuming services will be moved automatically.
For some routes, airlines may switch passengers to other Galician airports. Others may require rebooking, refunds or alternative travel plans. The impact will depend on the airline, route and booking conditions.
A Coruña will take on extra pressure
One of the main alternatives will be A Coruña Airport, also known as Alvedro. Cadena SER reports that Alvedro is preparing for a sharp increase in activity while Santiago is closed, with 1,486 operations planned during the period, around 70% more than originally expected.
The airport is also expected to handle extra services, including routes to London Heathrow, Paris-Orly, Málaga and Palma, as part of the temporary shift in traffic. Aena has planned reinforcements, including extra parking spaces, access improvements and increased services such as taxis, car hire, cleaning, security and assistance for passengers with reduced mobility.
But Alvedro faces a strike threat too
The challenge is that A Coruña’s extra workload coincides with labour unrest in its control tower.
Cadena SER reports that air traffic controllers at Alvedro are due to begin an indefinite strike from 00:00 on 17 April, called by USCA and CCOO over staffing cuts and workload concerns. The unions warn that the current team of eight controllers is not enough to guarantee proper rest, holidays and sustainable working conditions.
That does not mean flights will automatically stop. Minimum services usually apply in essential transport strikes. But the overlap between Santiago’s closure and Alvedro’s labour dispute creates a more uncertain travel picture for Galicia than a simple airport works notice might suggest.
Airport strike warning for 14 airports from 17 April
What about Vigo and Porto?
Travellers may also look at Vigo Airport or Porto Airport in northern Portugal, depending on their route, budget and final destination.
Vigo is useful for some domestic and European connections, although it has more limited direct UK options. Porto, by contrast, has a wider range of international routes and is often used by travellers heading to Galicia, but it adds a longer onward journey by road, bus or train.
For Camino pilgrims, the best alternative will depend on whether they are starting, finishing or joining a route partway through. Anyone walking the Camino in late April or May should check transfers carefully, especially if they were planning to fly directly out of Santiago after reaching the city.
Why this matters for UK travellers
Santiago is not only a regional airport. It is a key access point for British and Irish travellers visiting Galicia, walking the Camino or connecting through northern Spain.
Travel reports suggest thousands of UK passengers could be affected by cancelled or rerouted flights during the closure window. The safest approach is to check bookings now, contact airlines directly and avoid leaving changes until the final week.
What passengers should do
Anyone booked to fly to or from Santiago between 23 April and 27 May should check their airline account, app and email notifications. Passengers should look for whether flights have been cancelled, moved to another airport, or rescheduled.
It is also worth checking travel insurance, accommodation cancellation terms and transfer options. A change from Santiago to A Coruña, Vigo or Porto may look simple on paper, but it can add time, cost and extra planning — especially for families, older travellers and Camino walkers carrying luggage.
A temporary closure with wider effects
The works are temporary, but the impact will be felt across Galicia’s travel network.
Santiago will lose flights for more than a month. A Coruña will take on extra services while facing a strike threat. Vigo and Porto may become more important alternatives. And travellers will need to be more flexible than usual.
For anyone heading to Galicia this spring, the message is simple: do not assume your original airport plan still works. Check now, and build in extra time.