Santiago de Compostela Airport Reopens After Month-Long Closure, Ryanair Criticizes Passport Control Delays
Update after all Ryanair flights cancelled from three UK airports to Spain hotspot

Image: Birmingham Live
Santiago de Compostela Airport in northern Spain has reopened after a month-long closure for runway repairs, with Ryanair resuming flights. The airline has criticized the EU's new Entry/Exit System for causing excessive passport control delays during peak travel times, urging a suspension until after summer.
- 01Santiago de Compostela Airport closed from April 23 to May 27, 2026, for runway resurfacing.
- 02Ryanair operates flights three times a week to this airport from major UK airports.
- 03Ryanair has called for a suspension of the EU's Entry/Exit System until after the summer to avoid long passport control queues.
- 04Passengers faced hour-long delays at passport control during the May Bank Holiday weekend.
- 05Ryanair's Chief Operations Officer criticized the implementation of the Entry/Exit System as premature.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Santiago de Compostela Airport in northern Spain has reopened after being closed for runway resurfacing from April 23 to May 27, 2026. Ryanair, which operates flights three times a week to the airport from London Stansted, London Gatwick, and London Heathrow, has resumed its services following the closure. The airline has raised concerns about the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES), which has led to excessive passport control queues, particularly during the busy May Bank Holiday weekend. Ryanair's Chief Operations Officer, Neal McMahon, emphasized that the delays were unacceptable, noting that passengers sometimes spent as much time waiting at passport control as they did on their flights. He urged the Spanish government to suspend the EES rollout until after the peak summer travel season to ensure a smoother experience for travelers. The airport's reopening is expected to alleviate some travel disruptions for those heading to Spain's popular holiday destinations.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The reopening of Santiago de Compostela Airport is expected to improve travel options for passengers heading to Spain.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
What do you think about the EU's new Entry/Exit System?
Connecting to poll...
More about Ryanair
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.








