Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport

Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport (Galician: Aeroporto de Santiago-Rosalía de Castro, Spanish: Aeropuerto de Santiago-Rosalía de Castro) (IATA: SCQ, ICAO: LEST), previously named Lavacolla Airport and also known as Santiago de Compostela Airport, is an international airport serving the autonomous community and historical region of Galicia in Spain. It is the 2nd busiest airport in northern Spain after Bilbao Airport. It has been named after the Galician romanticist writer and poetess, Rosalía de Castro, since 12 March 2020.[1]

Santiago - Rosalía de Castro Airport

Aeroporto de Santiago - Rosalía de Castro
Aeropuerto de Santiago - Rosalía de Castro
Summary
Airport typePublic/Military
OwnerENAIRE
OperatorAena
ServesSantiago, Galicia, Spain
LocationSantiago de Compostela
Focus city for
Built1932
Elevation AMSL1,213 ft / 370 m
Coordinates42°53′47″N 08°24′55″W
Websiteaena-aeropuertos.es/santiago
Map
SCQ
Location in Galicia
SCQ
SCQ (Spain)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
17/35 10,499 3,200 Asphalt
Statistics (2020)
Passengers935,394
Passengers change 19-2067.8%
Aircraft movements10,949
Movements change 19-2051.1%
Control tower

The airport is located in the parish of Lavacolla, 12 km from Santiago de Compostela and handled 2,903,427 passengers in 2019. It is the main focus city of Vueling in the northwest Iberian Peninsula, and Ryanair's only focus city in Northern Spain. The Christian pilgrimage route of the Camino de Santiago runs near the airport.

History

The airport was set up by a group of aviation enthusiasts in October 1932 and two months directors were chosen to select where the airport was going to be built. In 1935 construction work started at the airport where two years later on 27 September 1937 the first scheduled flight from Santiago de Compostela took place. After the Spanish Civil war, political prisoners (who were held in the concentration camp of Lavacolla) were forced to work in the construction of the airport.[2]

In 1969 a new terminal was built at the airport. It has had several expansions taking place since it opened. It closed in 2011 following a brand new terminal being built at the airport. In 1981, a cargo terminal was built, giving the airport capacity to handle cargo flights.[3] During the 1990s, the airport had non-stop service to South America operated by Viasa.[4]

On 13 October 2011 a new passenger terminal opened at the airport, replacing the old terminal, opened in 1969 and remodeled in 1993.

Terminal

The airport currently has one operating terminal. The old terminal at Santiago de Compostela airport opened in 1969 and was often expanded. The old terminal closed on the night of 13 October 2011 when operations transferred to the new terminal.

The new terminal at Santiago de Compostela Airport officially opened on 13 October 2011 and passenger operations transferred there the following day. It is adjacent to the old terminal and has a size of 74,000 sq m. It has 22 check-in desks, 3 security checkpoints, 4 baggage carousels, and 13 gates of which 5 have airbridges. The baggage hall is split into two zones, one for Schengen flights and one for Non-Schengen. It can handle as many as 4 million passengers per year.[5] The terminal is due to be expanded in the future. This includes adding another five airbridges to five of the current gates as well as three more baggage carousels and an expanded shopping area.[6]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
Aer Lingus Dublin (resumes 3 April 2021)
Air Europa Gran Canaria, Tenerife–North
Seasonal: Fuerteventura
easyJet Basel/Mulhouse, Geneva
Seasonal: London–Gatwick (resumes 2 July 2021)
Edelweiss Air Seasonal: Zurich [7]
Iberia Express Madrid
Iberia Regional Bilbao
Lufthansa Frankfurt (resumes 28 March 2021)[8]
Ryanair[9] Alicante, Barcelona, Bergamo, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, London–Stansted, Madrid, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Seville, Tenerife–South, Valencia
TAP Air Portugal Lisbon (resumes 25 March 2021)[10]
Transavia Seasonal: Paris–Orly
Volotea Seasonal: Menorca
Vueling Amsterdam (resumes 1 April 2021), Barcelona, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Paris–Charles de Gaulle (resumes 2 April 2021), Tenerife–North
Seasonal: Brussels (resumes 29 March 2021), Gran Canaria,[11] Zurich

Statistics

During the early 2000s, numbers increased significantly at the airport, from 1.24 million in 2002 to peak at 2.46 million in 2011. Because of the financial crisis in Spain, those numbers decreased to 2.1 million in 2014. Cargo has decreased significantly over the last ten years. The Spanish economic recovery in the mid-2010s and the rise of Santiago de Compostela as an international destination are again increasing passenger numbers, breaking the 2.50 million mark for the first time in 2016.[12]

Traffic figures by year
Santiago de Compostela Airport Passenger Totals 2000-2019 (millions)
Updated: 14 January 2021.[12]
Passengers handledPassengers % ChangeAircraft movementsAircraft % ChangeFreight (tonnes)Freight % Change
2000 1,332,893-19,660-6,773-
2001 1,281,334 3.86%19,084 2.92%6,228 8.04%
2002 1,240,730 3.16%17.362 9.02%5,716 8.22%
2003 1,381,826 11.37%18,454 6.28%5,318 6.96%
2004 1,580,675 14.39%21,593 17.00%4,938 7.14%
2005 1,843,118 16.60%25,693 18.98%3,805 22.94%
2006 1,994,519 8.21%24,719 3.79%2,587 32.01%
2007 2,050,172 2.79%24,643 0.30%2,749 6.26%
2008 1,917,466 6.47%21,945 10.94%2,418 12.04%
2009 1,944,068 1.38%20,166 8.10%1,988 17.78%
2010 2,172,869 11.76%21,252 5.38%1,964 1.20%
2011 2,464,330 13.41%22,322 5.03%1,787 9.01%
2012 2,194,611 10.94%19,511 12.59%1,815 1.56%
2013 2,073,055 5.53%18,688 4.21%1,929 6.28%
2014 2,083,873 0.52%19,431 3.97%2,095 8.60%
2015 2,296,248 10.20%20,540 5.70%2,311 10.10%
2016 2,510,740 9.30%21,227 3.60%2,936 27.04%
2017 2,644,925 5.34%21,520 1.38%2,693 8.28%
2018 2,724,750 3.01%21,839 1.50%3,019 12.10%
2019 2,903,427 6.56%22,396 2.55%3,201 6.02%
2020 935,394 67.8%10,949 51.1%2,981 6.9%

Traffic figures by month
2020 Passengers2021 PassengersPassengers % Change
January 179,454-
-
February 175,669-
-
March 77,934-
-
April 829-
-
May 139-
-
June 10,750-
-
July 86,177-
-
August 147,639-
-
September 94,965-
-
October 73,503-
-
November 34,707-
-
December 53,628-
-

Route statistics
Diagram of the airport
Busiest domestic routes at Santiago de Compostela Airport (2020)[13]
Rank City Passengers % Change
2019 / 20		 Carriers
1 Madrid 235.760 67.4% Iberia, Iberia Express, Ryanair
2 Barcelona 153.033 64.2% Ryanair, Vueling
3 Palma de Mallorca 67.343 55.9% Air Europa, Iberia Regional, Ryanair, Vueling
4 Málaga 47.940 64.9% Ryanair, Vueling
5 Alicante 43.391 70.6% Ryanair, Vueling
6 Gran Canaria 41.376 62.9% Air Europa, Iberia Express, Iberia Regional, Ryanair, Vueling
7 Valencia 39.340 58.9% Ryanair
8 Lanzarote 36.281 59.0% Air Europa, Ryanair, Vueling
9 Sevilla 35.425 59.0% Ryanair
10 Tenerife (South) 23.415 80.8% Air Europa, Ryanair


Busiest International routes at Santiago de Compostela Airport (2020)[13]
Rank City Passengers % Change
2019 / 20		 Carriers
2 Geneva 27.583 69.9% easyJet Switzerland
2 London Stansted 24.998 78.3% Ryanair
3 Basel 14.410 66.8% easyJet Switzerland
3 Malta 8.461 41.3% Ryanair
4 Paris (Charles de Gaulle) 7.794 85.6% Vueling
6 Milan (Bergamo) 6.628 85.9% Ryanair
7 Amsterdam 5.259 81.8% Vueling
8 Rome (Ciampino) 5.165
-		 Ryanair
9 Paris (Orly) 4.444
-		 Transavia, Vueling
10 Dublin 3.801 93.1% Aer Lingus


Busiest countries of destination at Santiago de Compostela Airport (2020)[13]
Rank Country Passengers % Change
2019 / 20		 Scheduled Carriers
1 Spain 816.295 63.5% Air Europa, Iberia, Iberia Express, Iberia Regional, Ryanair, Vueling
2 Switzerland 45.081 73.5% easyJet Switzerland, Edelweiss, Vueling
3 United Kingdom 25.560 81.6% Ryanair
4 Italy 14.364 84.4% Ryanair, Vueling
5 France 12.282 77.5% Transavia, Vueling
6 Malta 8.461 41.3% Ryanair
7 Netherlands 5.259 81.8% Vueling
8 Ireland 3.809 93.1% Aer Lingus
9 Germany 3.295 96.2% Lufthansa
10 Cuba 548 79.1% -


Busiest Carriers at Santiago de Compostela Airport (2020)[13]
Rank Carriers Passengers % Change
2019 / 20
1 Ryanair 408.596 67.0%
2 Vueling 240.682 64.8%
3 Iberia Express 136.847 71.6%
4 easyJet Switzerland 41.953 69.0%
5 Air Europa 24.217 76.0%
6 Iberia Regional 19.740 69.6%
7 Volotea 8.995 3727.7%
8 Evelop 4.407 90.8%
9 Aer Lingus 3.801 93.1%
10 Lufthansa 3.219 96.4%

Ground transportation

Road

The airport is linked with Santiago de Compostela (13 km) by the Autovía A-54. This motorway is currently being extended to Lugo (94.5 km) where it will connect with the Autovía A-6, providing toll-free motorway access to the rest of Spain; and to the French border through the Autovía A-8 that intersects with the Autovía A-6 near Lugo. Nearby Autopista AP-9 connects the airport directly to A Coruña (66 km), Ferrol (88 km), Pontevedra (75 km), Vigo (100 km) and the Portuguese border. Ourense (116 km) is reachable through the Autopista AP-53 that connects with the Autopista AP-9.

There are several major car rental companies at the airport. The airport has more than 5,000 short and long-term covered parking spaces in the new terminal building. In addition, there are several low-cost, long-term private parking facilities around the airport.

Bus services

A city bus service operated by Empresa Freire every 30 minutes connects the airport with the center of Santiago de Compostela, and the bus and train terminals in the city. From the station in Santiago de Compostela, private coach operators run direct services in a multiple daily basis to most cities and towns in Galicia, including A Coruña, Ferrol, Lugo, Ourense, Pontevedra and Vigo, as well as long-distance services to the rest of Spain, and international services. In addition, three regional services link the airport directly to A Coruña, to Lugo, including several stops in the French Way of the Camino de Santiago, and to the A Mariña coastal area (home to As Catedrais beach) in the province of Lugo.

Rail

There are no rail facilities at the airport. However the train station in Santiago de Compostela, located 12 km. away, is connected to the airport by the city bus service every 30 minutes. There are combined available train+bus tickets to and from the airport. The train station in Santiago de Compostela has medium and long-distance high-speed Alvia and AVE services to most cities in Galicia, including A Coruña, Ferrol, Ourense, Pontevedra, Vilagarcía and Vigo; and further to Madrid Chamartín and the rest of Spain.

Foot and bike

The Camino de Santiago runs next to the runway of the airport. This is the busiest and final journey in the Camino de Santiago that goes through the famous Monte do Gozo. There are dedicated pathways for both pedestrians and bikers towards the city. The walking distance from the runway to the Cathedral is estimated at 10.90 km.

Accidents and Incidents
  • On 3 March 1978, a McDonnell Douglas DC-8-63 operated by Iberia from Madrid–Barajas Airport with 211 passengers and 11 crew members, registration EC-BMX. The aircraft touched down far down the runway after a high approach, aquaplaned off the runway, dropped into a hollow 20m deep and caught fire. The crash was settled with 70 injured people, 10 of them seriously injured, and no fatalities.[14]
  • On 7 June 2001, a Beechcraft B300C Super King Air 350, registration F-GOAE, departed from Le Mans-Arnage Airport (LME), France, to Santiago De Compostela Airport (SCQ), Spain, on a cargo flight according to instrument flight rules. Near the destination airport, the meteorological conditions were reported to be good, and the crew requested a visual approach to runway 17, even though the active runway was 35. Once cleared to land, the aircraft encountered a fog patch and from this moment it began a high ate descent (2000 to 3000 ft/min). A minute after entering an unexpected and unforeseen fog patch, the aircraft struck some trees in level flight and with an airspeed of 148 kt. The wings and engines detached from the fuselage, and they dragged along a scrubland area until they came to a stop. The crew suffered minor injuries and the aircraft was completely destroyed.[15]
  • On 2 August 2012, an Airnor Cessna 500 Citation I, registration EC-IBA, flying from Asturias crashed whilst on approach to the airport with the loss of both crew members.[16]

References
  1. Deaño Santiago, Carlos (12 March 2020). "Rebautizo oficial del aeropuerto como Rosalía de Castro". El Correo Gallego. Retrieved 13 March 2020.
  2. http://www.laopinioncoruna.es/galicia/2010/03/13/miles-presos-construyeron-obras-civiles-militares-galicia-1960/366159.html
  3. History of Santiago de Compostela Airport
  4. http://airline-memorabilia.blogspot.com/2011/08/viasa-1995-espana.html
  5. New Terminal
  6. New Terminal Expansion
  7. https://reisetopia.ch/news/edelweiss-santiago-de-compostela/
  8. "Lufthansa W20 European Preliminary operations as of 1000GMT 22AUG20". Airlineroute.net. 22 August 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  9. https://www.ryanair.com/gb/en/timetable
  10. "TAP Air Portugal moves Santiago de Compostela launch to March 2021". Airlineroute.net. 12 May 2020. Retrieved 17 May 2020.
  11. "Vueling abre 1 ruta entre Santiago y Gran Canaria". Santiagoaeropuerto.com. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 29 October 2020.
  12. "Annual Statistics" (in Spanish). Aena Aeropuertos S.A. Retrieved 17 October 2013.
  13. Estadísticas aena-aeropuertos.
  14. http://www.aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19780303-0
  15. http://www.aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=20010607-0
  16. Santiago de Compostela accident

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