The pilgrimage game is changing. A new budget airline called Fly2Galicia will start flying from Santiago de Compostela on December 1, 2026, plugging the Galician capital into eight destinations across Spain and Europe. The timing is no accident: the 2027 Holy Year, when Saint James's Feast Day falls on a Sunday, will draw unprecedented crowds of pilgrims to the Camino de Santiago.
Introductory fares are slashing expectations. Tickets start at around 40 euros on some international routes, with two pieces of hand luggage included even on the cheapest seats. The airline's opening network connects Santiago with Alicante, Granada, and Zaragoza in Spain, plus Brussels, Prague, Munich, Venice, and Milan across Europe. The first phase runs through October 2027, with an Airbus A320 handling the load and reports suggesting a second aircraft could join for the summer season.
Why Santiago Is Suddenly on Every Airline's Map
Fly2Galicia won't be alone in betting big on Santiago. Airlines are increasingly targeting underserved European hubs, and Santiago is proving irresistible right now. Wizz Air has announced new routes from Rome and Warsaw starting December 2026, with plans to base a full operation at the airport in February 2027. They're adding domestic flights to Malaga, Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Zaragoza.
The infrastructure is ready. Santiago–Rosalía de Castro Airport is expanding capacity, and airlines see the city as a gateway to more than just pilgrimage. Beyond the UNESCO-listed Old Town and its iconic cathedral, travelers are discovering Galicia's windswept coastline, the wine-soaked Rías Baixas, the islands, and beach towns like A Coruña and Vigo.
The 2027 Holy Year Will Change Everything
Every eleven years (roughly), when July 25 falls on a Sunday, the Jacobean Holy Year arrives. Catholics can earn a plenary indulgence by completing certain religious rites in Santiago, and history shows these years bring waves of pilgrims that dwarf normal traffic. The Camino de Santiago already breaks attendance records yearly, with hikers coming for spiritual, cultural, athletic, and personal reasons as much as religious ones.
That surge will be enormous. The connectivity opening up in December 2026 feels less like a coincidence and more like the airline industry's coordinated bet that 2027 will be chaos without enough seats. Fly2Galicia's European network especially targets Belgium, Germany, Italy, and the Czech Republic, regions that historically send strong numbers to the Camino. (The UK gets no love yet, notably.)
What This Means for Your Trip
If you're thinking about walking the Camino, the window is tightening. Getting there cheaply and reaching regional gateways across Europe just got easier. A flight from Brussels to Santiago for under 50 euros changes the math entirely for European walkers. You can now hop from Milan or Prague directly to Galicia without expensive connections through Madrid or Barcelona.
But book early if 2027 is in your plans. Holy Years don't happen often, and every airline operating from northern Spain is racing to capture that wave. Fly2Galicia's introductory pricing won't last forever, and seats on competitive routes will vanish fast once word spreads. The next few months are the sweet spot where you can still grab deals before demand becomes biblical.
Santiago de Compostela is preparing for its biggest moment in years. The question isn't whether the infrastructure will hold, but whether you'll be able to call it your destination before the crowds make it impossible.
