Santiago-Rosalía de Castro Airport will close from April 23 to May 27 for runway resurfacing work, according to reports. During this period, the airport will be closed to all air traffic, with no takeoffs or landings, sources indicate. This closure affects a key transportation hub that serves 3.2 million passengers annually, making it the second busiest airport in Northern Spain, as reported. The cancellations due to the closure will impact over 5,000 Brits, based on 30 flights per week from the UK and an average of 180 passengers per plane, according to estimates.
Major airlines operating flights to Santiago-Rosalía de Castro include Vueling, Ryanair, Iberia, and British Airways, as noted. The airport operates 30 flights per week from the UK, and it is encouraging customers concerned about flight status, schedule changes, or rebooking to contact their airline, sources say. The exact number of total flights being cancelled, including non-UK routes, has not been disclosed, and specific flight routes from the UK that are being cancelled remain unclear.
We don't expect any near-term fuel shortages, but the situation is fluid. At present our fuel suppliers can guarantee supply to mid-end May.
Travelers have alternative airport options during the closure. A Coruña (Alvedro) Airport is located a 50-minute drive from Santiago-Rosalía de Castro and typically handles domestic traffic but has some international routes, according to reports. A flight from London Heathrow to A Coruña Airport costs £189, as noted. Vigo Airport is another alternative, located further south, with a flight from Luton to Vigo Airport costing £141, sources indicate. Compensation or rebooking policies specifically outlined by the airport or airlines for affected passengers have not been detailed.
Meanwhile, broader fuel supply issues are emerging for airlines. EasyJet passengers could face flight cancellations due to jet fuel cost surges from Iran's effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz, according to reports. EasyJet has visibility to the middle of May regarding fuel supply, as stated by Kenton Jarvis, the EasyJet boss. However, EasyJet insists it has no concerns about fuel supply, sources say. The current status of the Strait of Hormuz closure and its direct effect on global jet fuel prices is uncertain.
If the closure of the Hormuz Straits continues into May or June then we cannot rule out risks to fuel supplies.
Ryanair has assessed the fuel supply risks differently. A Ryanair spokesperson described that the airline does not expect any near-term fuel shortages, but the situation is fluid, according to Metro - Main (major_media). At present, Ryanair's fuel suppliers can guarantee supply to mid-end May, as reported. However, if the closure of the Strait of Hormuz continues into May or June, Ryanair cannot rule out risks to fuel supplies, the spokesperson noted. The impact on airlines other than EasyJet and Ryanair regarding fuel supply issues is not specified.
Key unknowns persist in this situation. Beyond the Santiago airport closure, the full scope of flight cancellations and fuel supply impacts remains fluid, with airlines monitoring developments closely. Passengers are advised to stay in touch with their carriers for updates as the closure period approaches.