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Galician airports allegedly face discrimination from the Government, according to Xunta, due to Ryanair airport issue

Santiago City Council criticizes Aena, while Vigo City Council deems Irish company as lacking seriousness

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Galician Airports Faced with Alleged Discrimination by the Government, as Perceived by the Xunta,...
Galician Airports Faced with Alleged Discrimination by the Government, as Perceived by the Xunta, Following Ryanair's Port Involvement

Galician airports allegedly face discrimination from the Government, according to Xunta, due to Ryanair airport issue

In a significant development for the aviation industry in Galicia, Spain, Ryanair has announced the closure of its base in Santiago de Compostela and the elimination of all its flights in Vigo, effective from 2026. This decision is set to impact the number of seats, frequencies, and destinations for Ryanair flights in the region.

The Minister of Presidency, Justice and Sports in Galicia, Diego Calvo, has been vocal about the situation, pointing directly at Aena, the company responsible for airport management, for prioritizing profits over public service. Calvo accuses the Spanish government of discriminating against small and medium-sized airports, such as those in Galicia, and urges Aena to convene urgently the committee for the coordination of Galician airports.

The closure of the Santiago base leaves the Galician capital without Ryanair flights entirely, except for connections from other bases. However, this decision eliminates Ryanair's connections from Compostela to Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Alicante, Gran Canaria, Palma, and Zaragoza. A Coruña, the only one of the three Galician airports that did not have Ryanair flights, remains unaffected.

The Xunta, the regional government of Galicia, has expressed blame towards the central government and Aena for the situation. The mayor of A Coruña, Iñés Rey, has asked the Xunta to move to try to find new routes for the airport, while the city councils of Santiago and Vigo have expressed displeasure with Ryanair.

The closure of the Santiago base is reportedly due to the increase in fees planned by Aena for 2026, as suggested by Miriam Louzao. The mayor of Vigo, Abel Caballero, downplays the announcement, recalling that the local government "no longer intended" to renew the agreement with Ryanair.

The Inter-union Confederation of Galicia (CIG) is concerned about the jobs in Santiago in case the closure of the Compostela base affects the ground staff. Calvo presumably refers to the Spanish central government as responsible for the situation of the Aena airports in Galicia, especially the Santiago de Compostela airport.

The Spanish government holds the competencies in the matter of air traffic and owns the airports. Despite the challenges, Calvo emphasizes the need for Aena to prioritize contributing to territorial rebalancing and supporting smaller airports in the region. This announcement comes at a critical time for the aviation sector in Galicia, with the industry seeking stability and growth in the face of ongoing challenges.

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