Armando Santana, a councillor with the Mixed Group at Lanzarote and La Graciosa Cabildo, successfully pushed for a motion on Friday demanding urgent explanations and measures to ensure the safety of the air traffic control service at César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport.
The proposal received support from all political groups in the assembly, except the PSOE, who voted against it. Santana highlighted the need for immediate action following warnings about potential deficiencies in the service and a concerning incident on 29 September 2026, when an Iberia Express aircraft entered the runway while a Ryanair plane was still landing; this incident is currently under investigation by the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency (AESA).
“The air safety of Lanzarote and La Graciosa cannot rely on uncertainty or a lack of information. We must demand explanations and ensure our airport has the necessary resources to operate safely,” Santana asserted.
The motion particularly emphasises warnings from the Union of Air Traffic Controllers (USCA), which states that Lanzarote’s control tower has only 14 controllers instead of the 22 required, according to the latest tender. Consequently, the motion demands official information from SAERCO regarding the current staffing levels, personnel needs, shifts, absence coverage, and measures to prevent fatigue.
Among the approved agreements, AESA is requested to provide updates on the ongoing investigation and assess urgent preventive measures. Aena must clarify security protocols to prevent runway incursions, and all involved entities are asked to evaluate potential human, technical, and organisational factors.
Additionally, an institutional meeting is requested with AESA, Aena, SAERCO, and union representatives to address the situation and establish monitoring mechanisms.
“I don’t want this motion to be just an institutional declaration. I want answers, documentation, and concrete commitments. Lanzarote cannot afford for such an important issue to remain unresolved,” concluded Santana. The agreements will be sent to the relevant authorities, requesting information on actions taken or proposed within two months.
