Compiled with the help of artificial intelligence, based on Spanish-language information. Source below the article.
Wizz Air brings forward Santiago base opening
Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air has announced it is bringing forward the opening of its base at Santiago de Compostela airport from February 2027 to 17 December this year. The move, announced on Wednesday, will include a new connection to Tenerife North.
The airline has also unveiled new routes from Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia to Romania and Moldova.
New routes and aircraft
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Wizz Air confirmed it will open its Galician base on 17 December, operating two international and five domestic routes, all flown with Airbus A320 and A321neo aircraft. The move comes a year after Ryanair abandoned its base at the airport, citing the high cost of Aena’s airport fees.
The newly announced year-round routes will link Barcelona with Brasov in Romania from 18 December (two flights per week), Madrid with Brasov from 20 December (also twice weekly), and Valencia with Chișinău, the Moldovan capital, with three weekly frequencies.
Services from Santiago de Compostela
From Santiago de Compostela-Rosalía de Castro airport, where the airline will station one aircraft permanently, Wizz Air will offer connections to Tenerife North, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Málaga and Zaragoza, as well as two new international links to Rome Fiumicino and Warsaw Modlin. The Santiago base adds to those in Valencia and Madrid, which the company announced in July.
Ryanair’s departure and ongoing dispute
Ryanair closed its Santiago de Compostela base for the winter 2025-2026 season, at which point it also suspended its flights to Tenerife North and Vigo, cutting one million seats. The airline continues to operate some flights to the Galician capital.
Earlier, in summer 2025, Ryanair had announced the closure of operations at Valladolid and Jerez, which it said represented a reduction of 800,000 seats. For the current summer 2026 season, it added the closure of operations in Asturias and a further reduction of 1.2 million seats.
Ryanair has been highly critical of Aena’s pricing policy, particularly at regional airports, where it is demanding a substantial reduction in the fees it pays for use, beyond the reductions that the Spanish airport operator already applies at these secondary hubs.
What’s happening in the Canaries – straight to your phone
News, weather alerts and practical updates – direct from the islands, in English. We live here and know what’s going on – before the international media catch up. Everything lands on our WhatsApp channel – no middlemen, no algorithm. Curated for families, expats and travelers.
Arona roadworks: Traffic alerts for key routes this week
The Last Seder filming causes Tenerife traffic chaos
Worker injured in fall at Playa Blanca building site
Tenerife opens free caravan service in north
Parking restrictions in Santa Cruz for TV3 filming
Tenerife’s 20-year sustainable mobility plan moves forward
Border checks on Italy arrivals affect 37 in Canaries
Man airlifted from La Graciosa after beach accident
Gran Canaria’s Guiniguada viaduct reopens fully ahead of schedule
