Transport Fees Delayed in Canary Islands After Talks
A negotiation between the discretionary transport sector and Aena, the Spanish airport operator, has resulted in a significant delay in new access fees for buses at Canary Islands airports. Representatives from the Canary Islands Government, Tenerife and Lanzarote local councils, and the Transport Business Federation met with Aena officials at Tenerife South Airport. They agreed to postpone the fee implementation until 1 January 2027. Aena will also fund the development of a rest area for drivers, equipped with shading, benches, toilets, and coffee machines.
Luis López Chapi, Aena’s director for the Canary Islands, described the meeting as “cordial” and confirmed that the access control system will remain operational, but without charging fees for the time being. He mentioned the need for a familiarisation period for all users, allowing for adjustments in procedures, with further discussions planned with transport operators and tour companies before the new system is fully rolled out.
José Agustín Espino Flores, president of the Transport Business Federation, expressed his approval of the delay but maintained his stance against charging buses waiting for passengers. He argued that buses are meant to provide a service and should not bear costs for waiting at the airport.
María Fernández, director general of Transport and Mobility for the Canary Islands, stated that the meeting began with Aena apologising for its management of the situation, which she claimed had become a public concern. She welcomed the halt of the planned schedule and announced a series of dialogue meetings slated for October through December to make informed decisions before the final implementation.
Fernández critiqued the measure’s origin, calling it a “packaged rule from Madrid” that was inappropriately applied to a diverse archipelago. She emphasised that discussions should have preceded the system’s introduction, given the existing coordination tables between the local government and Aena.
