The Spanish airport operator AENA, which is majority state-owned, has rejected the Canary Islands Government’s request to exempt the archipelago’s airports from the planned 6.5% rise in air fares scheduled for March 2026.
The Minister of Public Works, Housing, and Mobility of the Canary Islands, Pablo Rodríguez, informed Parliament on Friday that the request — aimed at protecting residents’ mobility and the islands’ connectivity — was not accepted by the operator.
No Support from AENA or the National Government
Although AENA formally responded to the letter sent by the regional ministry, the national Ministry of Transport has not issued any reply, which the minister described as “silence as its answer.” Rodríguez voiced his frustration during a parliamentary committee session in response to Canarian Coalition (CC) deputy Miguel Yonathan Martín Fumero.
In its written response, AENA defended its right to update or increase airport charges, noting that all changes remain subject to oversight by the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC).
“It has not been a favourable response; it does not address what we proposed,” clarified Rodríguez.
The Canary Islands Demand a Role in Strategic Decisions
The regional government insists that AENA’s decision violates the principles established in the Statute of Autonomy of the Canary Islands, specifically Article 161, which states that the archipelago must participate in strategic decisions concerning the airport sector.
“For us, this is essential,” said Rodríguez. “Our airports are the only means of transport available to connect the islands with the rest of Spain and the world. Any decision on fare increases affects not only tourism but also the daily mobility of our residents.”
The minister further reminded Parliament that Article 161 obliges the Spanish Parliament to enact legislation enabling the Canary Islands to participate in the management of airport infrastructure, particularly in matters relating to fees, public prices, and the use of public assets.
“We Want to Be Protagonists in Connectivity and Mobility”
Rodríguez reiterated that the Canary Islands Government seeks to play an active and decisive role in one of the archipelago’s most strategic policy areas: connectivity and mobility.
“We want to be protagonists in one of the most strategic policies for this archipelago — connectivity and mobility — as recognised and protected by our Statute of Autonomy,” he concluded.
