Major Spanish Airport to Close for Month Due to Critical Maintenance

Spain is bracing for significant travel disruptions as one of its primary northern aviation hubs prepares to halt all operations for over a month. 

The Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport will undergo a complete shutdown starting April 23 until May 27, 2026, to facilitate essential runway rehabilitation and comprehensive maintenance. 

This decision means that all take-offs and landings will be suspended for the duration of the project, a move that is expected to complicate travel plans just before the onset of the busy summer season.

As a vital gateway to northern Spain, the airport handled over 3 million passengers in 2025 alone. 

The temporary closure is set to impact thousands of travelers and several major carriers, including Ryanair, Vueling, and Iberia, which operate frequent domestic and international routes to the facility. 

The timing of the maintenance has raised concerns regarding the capacity of regional infrastructure to absorb the diverted traffic during a period of high demand.

In response to the closure, airport authorities have urged travelers to contact their respective airlines for rebooking details or flight modifications. 

It is anticipated that a large volume of traffic will be redirected to nearby alternative hubs, such as A Coruña or Vigo. 

This development comes amid a broader wave of aviation challenges in Spain, including labor strikes and operational pressures, further tightening the schedule for those planning holidays in the region.