Cantabria has recorded the passage of about 3,000 English fans on the occasion of the UEFA Europa League final held in Bilbao, without serious incidents, according to the Government Delegation.
Delegate Eugenia Gómez de Diego pointed out that "in general terms, everything has developed normally, without any disturbances or serious incidents, beyond a punctual quarrel that has not gone to great lengths and a neighborhood complaint for noise".
Gómez de Diego has expressly thanked the work of all the bodies and services involved, from the State security forces to the airport staff, highlighting the joint effort that has allowed the operation to proceed "without setbacks".
In addition, he expressed his desire that "this mobilization of people has generated an extra activity, outside the high season, in addition, for the hospitality, catering, commerce, taxis and other services, which have also made an important effort to attend this arrival of visitors."
The delegate of the Government has valued the "challenge overcome" by the Seve Ballestries-Santander Airport, which has operated for the first time in its history during the early morning to facilitate the departure of flights to the United Kingdom, "demonstrating its capacity and attractiveness".
During the night and morning of this Thursday, a total of 12 charter flights and a regular one have been operated from the airport, all heading to Manchester, with approximately 2,000 passengers on board. Most of the English fans who used Cantabria as a base to attend the final have already returned to their country.
The reinforcement of the National Police at the airport has been completed once the direct flights with the United Kingdom have been completed. Although some followers still remain in the Cantabrian terminal, their departure will take place through links with other airports through regular flights, which can already be assumed by the staff without the need for specific reinforcement at the border.
In the Port of Santander, the special device has also been completed after 6 p.m., once the ferry to the United Kingdom has left, with about 140 more people than initially planned, presumably also football fans.
Despite the return of most fans to the United Kingdom, the National Police will keep the security operation in Santander active throughout the afternoon and night of this Thursday, as a preventive measure.
The Civil Guard has reported that the security device deployed at the airport, the port, the itineraries and the surrounding municipalities has been developed without relevant incidents. In Castro Urdiales, the presence of groups of both hobbies was observed in the urban center, where a preventive device was established without any disturbances.
No complaints have been registered at the airport, where passport control has been carried out normally thanks to the reinforcement of human and technical means established by the National Police and AENA.