Wizz Air opens Galicia base, adds 100 Canary flights, challenges Binter

Wizz Air, the Hungarian low‑cost carrier, is establishing a new base at Santiago de Compostela Airport in Galicia. From 1 February the airline will operate 100 flights a month to the Canary Islands – Tenerife‑North, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura – using its Airbus A321neo fleet of 239 seats, with fares starting at €29.99.

The expansion is set to intensify competition with regional carrier Binter, which runs a long‑standing “air bridge” from Vigo (Peinador) to the same destinations. Binter operates 100 monthly flights with 132‑seat E195‑E2 aircraft and has historically done so without public subsidies. Regional authorities say any aid will be limited to international routes, and no public tender has been announced for the new Wizz Air services. The move could reshape air connectivity and pricing in north‑western Spain.

Wizz Air also projects a network of 1,000 European routes by 2026, carrying around 70 million passengers annually and relying on a modern fleet for operational reliability and lower emissions.