Galician airports face accusations of discriminatory treatment by the Government, as per claims made by Xunta, following Ryanair's port situation.
In a significant development for Galician aviation, Ryanair has announced the closure of its base in Santiago de Compostela and the elimination of all flights in Vigo from 2026. This decision will result in a reduction of seats, frequencies, and destinations, causing concern among local authorities and the Interunion Confederation of Galician (CIG) over potential job losses in Santiago.
The airline's withdrawal is directly linked to the institutional reactions in Galicia, with the government viewing Aena as responsible for the closure. Ryanair has accused Aena of charging excessive and non-competitive airport fees, which hinder investment and growth in regional airports like those in Galicia.
Aena, the company in charge of airport management, has been criticised for prioritising profits over its public service obligations. Diego Calvo, the Conselleiro of Presidency, Justice, and Sports, has accused Aena of failing to fulfil its public service obligations and urged the company to convene urgently the committee of airport coordination of Galicia to find solutions to the new scenario left by Ryanair's departure.
The city councils of Santiago and Vigo have expressed displeasure with Ryanair, while also holding Aena responsible for the situation. Vigo Mayor Abel Caballero downplayed the airline's announcement regarding the city, recalling that the local government "no longer intended" to renew the agreement with Ryanair, which expires at the end of this year.
Meanwhile, Miriam Louzao, the mayor of A Coruña, has attributed the Ryanair closure in Santiago to the increase in fees planned by Aena for 2026, which she considers harmful to medium and small airports. Diego Calvo has also criticised the government of Pedro Sánchez for allegedly discriminating against small and medium-sized airports, such as those in Galicia.
Amidst these developments, Calvo has called for Aena to prioritize contributing to territorial rebalancing and supporting small and medium-sized airports. The competencies in the matter of air traffic are held by the State, and the airports are owned by the State.
The closure of Ryanair's base in Santiago de Compostela and the elimination of all its flights in Vigo have generated a wave of institutional reactions in Galicia, with local authorities seeking solutions to mitigate the impact on jobs and the aviation sector in the region.
