Ryanair announced this morning that it will start operating flights to Castellón-Costa de Azahar airport in the north of the Valencia region from September.
There will be three flights a week from London Stansted, starting on September 15 and two flights a week from Bristol from September 16. Tickets will go on sale tomorrow, March 12, with fares from €31.99. It is expected that Ryanair will announce routes to other European destinations from Castellón soon as well.
This is extremely good news for Castellón airport, which was built in 2011 but has not managed to attract airlines. The whole project has been mired in controversy and the airport has become a symbol of the region’s wildly extravagant public spending. .
Castellón de la Plana, the capital of Castellón province, is 75 km north of the city of Valencia. The province has 112 km of coastline, a good stretch of which is known as the Costa de Azahar, or Orange Blossom Coast, with resorts including Benicassim, Peñiscola, Benicarló and Oropesa del Mar. Inland, this is a great area for walking, particularly in the Maestrazgo area around the pretty hilltop town of Morella.
Mooching around Spain 
Not a fan of Ryan Air but they do have pulling power and the area deserves more tourism. Just hope it doesn’t spoil the character of the place.
The first time I flew Ryanair 6 years ago I vowed never to fly with them again but having recently flown to Lanzarote with them I am converted. The flight was much cheaper than anyone else from my local East Midlands airport, the plane was on time both ways and I could not fault the on board sevice. It is no longer the mad scramble it used to be with the ability to choose your seat on advance now. I will be using them again soon to fly to Valencia which at the time of booking was way cheaper than Alicante.