One of Spain’s most iconic, culturally diverse, scenic and spiritual regions is now within a short flight from Cork Airport as Aer Lingus’ inaugural service to Santiago de Compostela took off on Monday afternoon, June 1st. EI858 departed shortly after 12.30, making it the second direct flight between Cork and northern Spain added in the last two years.
Summer in Santiago de Compostela offers mild and pleasant temperatures, typically ranging from 18°C to 25°C. Known as the spiritual heart of Galicia, visitors to Santiago de Compostela can wander through the cobbled streets of its UNESCO-listed old town, where ornate buildings, arcaded squares and historic monasteries surround the magnificent Catedral de Santiago, the main attraction and the final stop on the Camino de Santiago. This cathedral, which is believed to house the remains of Saint James (Santiago), draws visitors from across the world.
Last year, the Camino de Santiago Pilgrims Office recorded more than 530,000 pilgrims completing the Camino – the highest figure ever recorded and a 6% increase on the previous year. Among the top 10 nationalities undertaking the pilgrimage, Irish pilgrims ranked eighth, with numbers up by 5% compared with 2024.
This is the second of two new Aer Lingus routes from Cork Airport this summer, following the new twice-weekly service to Nice in France which started in May. Santiago de Compostela is the sixth new route added by Aer Lingus at Cork Airport since April last year.
The new route will also come as a further boost to inbound tourism, with Spain being Ireland’s fifth-largest key source market for inbound visitors, according to Tourism Ireland.
