Canaries Urge Spain to Halt Airport Fee Hike

Island Government Demands Exclusion from 2026 Rate Increase

Tenerife’s governing council is making a strong plea to the Spanish government: exempt the Canary Islands from an impending 6.5% rise in airport fees planned by Aena for 2026. The island’s plenary session overwhelmingly approved a motion highlighting the potential detrimental effects on essential connectivity and the region’s economy.

Economic Repercussions Feared

The motion argues that Aena’s proposed rate increase will inflict significant harm on the islands’ crucial air links, residents’ ability to travel, the cost of everyday living, and the vital tourism sector. The Cabildo de Tenerife is calling on the Ministry of Transportation to recognize the archipelago’s unique status.

They are specifically requesting either complete exclusion from the fee hike or the implementation of targeted financial incentives. These measures, they contend, would acknowledge the Canary Islands’ ultra-peripheral reality and ensure equitable treatment for its citizens.

Air Travel: A Lifeline, Not a Luxury

The approved text emphatically states that air travel in the Canaries is not a matter of choice but a fundamental necessity. The islands’ geographical isolation, insularity, and distance from mainland Spain make air transport indispensable for maintaining territorial cohesion, accessing essential services, and fostering economic and social progress.

For an island like Tenerife, where tourism accounts for over 35% of its GDP and supports one in three jobs, any disruption to air connectivity poses a direct threat to the population’s well-being. The Cabildo insists that Aena’s planned increase jeopardizes the delicate economic and social equilibrium of the Canary Islands.

“We cannot allow, for a technical decision with a purely collection orientation, the Canaries and the Canary Islands are forced to pay more for something that is often not an option, but an obligation.”

—Cabildo de Tenerife Council

The council stressed that mobility is a basic right, and any unjustified escalation in costs could create systemic inequalities in access to healthcare, education, employment, and leisure activities.

The concern over rising costs is echoed across Europe. For instance, in 2023, the UK saw inflation reach 6.8%, significantly impacting household budgets, making additional travel expenses a considerable burden for many citizens. A similar impact is feared in the Canaries if airport fees rise disproportionately.