AENA refuses to exempt Canary Islands’ Airports from fee increases
The Spanish airport operator Aena has rejected the Canary Islands Government’s request to exempt the archipelago’s airports from the planned 6.5% increase in airport charges, which is set to take effect in March 2026, the increases that led Ryanair to cancel 400,000 flight seats to the Canaries.
The announcement was made by Pablo Rodríguez, the Canary Islands’ Minister of Public Works, Housing and Mobility, during a parliamentary session on Friday. He confirmed that while Aena has formally replied to the government’s letter, the Ministry of Transport has not yet issued any response.
According to Rodríguez, Aena justified its position by citing its legal authority to update or raise airport fees, provided such decisions are subject to oversight by Spain’s National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC).
The regional government maintains that the Canary Islands’ Statute of Autonomy grants the archipelago the right to participate in strategic decisions related to the management of its airports. Article 161 of the statute requires the Spanish Parliament to enact specific legislation allowing the Canaries a say in setting airport charges and related economic measures.
Rodríguez stressed the importance of recognising the islands’ unique dependency on air transport, describing airports as the only viable means of connection for both residents and tourists.
“Any decision taken on this matter affects not only tourism but also the mobility of our residents,” he said. “We want to play an active role in one of the most strategic areas for the Canary Islands—connectivity and mobility, as recognised by our Statute of Autonomy.”
The Canary Islands Government has repeatedly called for a “differentiated treatment” to reflect the region’s insular and remote status, insisting that increases in airport fees will have a direct impact on the cost of travel and tourism competitiveness across the archipelago.
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