Ryanair Flights Cancelled as Spain Airport Shuts for Over a Month

Ryanair has cancelled hundreds of flights scheduled to and from Spain’s Murcia-San Javier Airport after authorities announced the facility will close for over a month to accommodate military exercises, disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers, many of them British tourists.

The Spanish aviation authority, AESA, confirmed that Murcia-San Javier Airport will be temporarily shut down from April 22 to May 31, 2026, to allow the Spanish Armed Forces to conduct large-scale NATO-linked drills in the region. During this period, all civilian air traffic will be suspended, affecting both commercial and private flights.

Ryanair, which operates multiple weekly routes from Murcia-San Javier to destinations across the UK and Ireland, said it was forced to cancel approximately 320 flights during the closure window. The airline estimates that over 65,000 seats were affected, with the majority booked by passengers traveling from the United Kingdom.

“We regret the inconvenience caused to our customers, but this closure is mandated by Spanish authorities and outside our control,” a Ryanair spokesperson said in a statement to Irish Mirror. “We are working to reaccommodate affected passengers on alternative flights or provide full refunds where requested.”

The airline has begun contacting affected customers via email and SMS, offering rebooking options on nearby airports such as Alicante-Elche and Murcia-Corvera, both of which remain operational. However, industry analysts note that capacity on alternative routes is limited during peak spring travel season, potentially leading to higher fares and reduced availability.

Murcia-San Javier Airport, located in the southeastern region of Spain, typically handles around 1.2 million passengers annually, with a significant proportion originating from the UK and Ireland. Ryanair has been one of the airport’s largest carriers, operating year-round services to cities including London Stansted, Manchester, Edinburgh and Dublin.

The closure coincides with the start of the spring holiday period in the UK, when demand for travel to Spain’s Costa Cálida and Costa Blanca regions traditionally rises. Travel industry groups have expressed concern that the disruption could deter some tourists, particularly those booking last-minute or package holidays reliant on direct flights from regional UK airports.

Spain’s Ministry of Defence stated that the exercises, named “Trident Juncture 2026,” involve air, land, and naval forces from multiple NATO countries and are designed to test rapid deployment capabilities in southern Europe. The military emphasized that the airport’s runway and support infrastructure are essential for simulating real-world logistics scenarios.

While civilian airports have occasionally hosted dual-use operations, full closures for military drills of this duration are uncommon in peacetime. Officials said the decision was made after assessing security, airspace coordination, and logistical requirements, with civilian impact deemed secondary to national defense objectives.

Passengers affected by the cancellations are advised to check their booking status directly with Ryanair or through their travel agents. The airline has waived change fees for rebooking to alternative dates or airports, though fare differences may apply. Refunds are available upon request through the airline’s website or customer service channels.

As of April 18, 2026, Ryanair has not announced plans to pursue compensation from Spanish authorities for lost revenue or operational disruption. Industry observers note that airlines typically absorb such costs as force majeure events under standard contracts of carriage, particularly when closures are government-mandated for national security reasons.