Airport Name and ICAO/IATA Code
Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport (ICAO: LEST / IATA: SCQ)We have 1 Santiago, how about another??? Can confuse Charlie then with SCL/SCQ
Location (City, Country)
Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain
Airport Type & Size
Large international hub with 1 runway, Rwy 17/35 at 10,499ft/3,200m.It is capable of taking 747s and should be able to take the A380 based on runway length but not sure the taxiways and facilities can deal with it. Iberia used to operate a seasonal route to JFK using one of their 747-100/-200s in the 1980s. It had 3 million visitors coming through its doors in 2025 with a high of 3.6 million in 2024
The airport features an old and new terminal (Opened in 2011), the new having 12 C/B class stands around it, having 5 jetbridges that, based on my observation skills lol, can service 8 of those stands, with another 2 D class (Maybe E?) stands overlapping some of the C stands. It also features a 15th remote stand and 7 general aviation/A/B class stands (Similar to the ones at BRI) to the south of the new terminal (To the left below).
It also has a cargo area for B/C class aircraft consisting of 3 stands and then the Old terminal which features 5 C class stands (Might have an overlapping D/E class stand, can’t work it out) one of which features a jetway, with 2 E class stands 1 of which has a jetway and another has a jetway that doesn’t line up with the jetway and seems to line up with one of the old stands since worn away. It seems to now be in use as only cargo stands but the terminal is till there with all the jetways in-tact so could form extra gates for the airport. It also has an E class remote stand to the south of the old terminal angled and butted up to the cargo area and C class stands. It also features some small stands to the north (To the right here).
There is then a private aviation area to the North and a base that serves as a military area, from photos for firefighting aircraft.
Why should this airport be added to World of Airports?
It’s the largest and busiest airport in Galicia and the second busiest in Northern Spain after Bilbao. It is a hub for Vueling and for (Yawn) Ryanair as well as being a seasonal focus city for Iberia.
It should be added as it is a sizeable airport with a large runway capable of handling most aircraft types and would fit nicely as a Spanish Bari. It also has potential for expansion with both general aviation and military aircraft (plus firefighting) and is ready for maintenance too with the small hangers for private aviation (B class aircraft fleets).
It would also provide an airport in reach of the East coast American C class aircraft from the likes of IAD perfect for players running those fleets.
Major Airlines & Routes
Vueling/Ryanair have it as a year round hub, Iberia as a seasonal one.It used to be a focus city for Air Europa so it’d be nice to have them too. easyJet could be a fifth as they did try to compete with Ryanair out of there for a short while, or just other Spanish airlines, many of which I’ve suggested on here lol like Spanair.
Evelop/Iberojet operated seasonal charter to all the Canaries and the Balearics from here in the mid-2010s.
Soon to be receiving United B38M from EWR.
Unique Features or Challenges
Example: Snowy winters, long taxi distances, terminal complexity
Optional: Links, images, maps, or videos
Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport - WikipediaNew Terminal,
Cargo and control tower,
Funky control tower,
Old terminal,
Runway 35,
Runway 17,
Some photos,
Tokyo bound charter,
Firefighting planes,
A350 charter,
Air Canada,
MD87,
Cargo 737,
CRJ 200,
Japanese gov B744,
Evelop A359,
Iberia A343 doing training flights,
Iberworld,
‘I’m seeing double ‘ere’
RAF F35,
Spanish Air Force Eurofighter and Hornet,
Helicopters,
Air Europa,
Niki,
