AENA again shows neglect at Fuerteventura Airport

The Majorera Assembly–Canary Coalition (AM‑CC) has denounced AENA’s abandonment and the lack of oversight over its concessionary companies, and has joined the demands of the air‑traffic‑control staff employed by SAERCO at Fuerteventura airport.

The political formation backs the complaint filed by the controllers, who warn of staff shortages, deteriorating working conditions, and the direct impact on operational safety.

“The scarcity of resources and the poor working conditions of male and female air controllers pose a risk to aviation safety and, therefore, to air‑travel users.”

According to the controllers, a progressive reduction in personnel without replacement has led to an increased workload and repeated breaches of rest‑period regulations. This is especially worrying in a sector where fatigue and stress can severely affect service performance and jeopardize flight safety.

AM‑CC stresses that “the safety of people is being put at risk in an archipelago where air connectivity is essential.” The island’s dependence on air transport makes the situation critical.

The unions Unión Sindical de Controladores Aéreos (USCA) and Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) have responded by calling an indefinite strike starting at 00:00 on 17 April, after negotiations with the concessionaire failed and a request for mediation was submitted to the Interconfederal Service of Mediation and Arbitration (SIMA).

In light of the stalemate, AM‑CC demands that AENA intervene immediately with SAERCO to guarantee dignified working conditions and restore normal service with full safety guarantees.

“In the Canary Islands, and especially in non‑capital islands like Fuerteventura, flying is not a luxury; in many cases, it is a basic necessity, enabling people to receive medical treatment or not.”

Criticism of AENA’s Management

• The assembly points out that this is not an isolated case, recalling similar problems faced by the airport’s gardening and maintenance staff, who suffered unpaid wages and precarious conditions under another concessionaire, leading to infrastructure decay and abandonment of external spaces.
• AM‑CC accuses AENA of “constant negligence,” acting like a private company without adequate oversight, despite the airport’s high traffic.
• Specific grievances include the elimination of essential services such as the airport medical office and the second runway.
• The announced €1.8 billion investment for Canary Islands airports is criticized for being decided unilaterally, without regional input.
• The proposal to merge military and civilian airspace over Fuerteventura—potentially extending noise impact from Puerto del Rosario and Antigua to Tuineje and Pájara—is also condemned.

Call for Greater Regional Control

Given these issues, AM‑CC urges the Government of the Canary Islands to assume greater competencies in airport management across the archipelago, aiming to ensure a service that truly meets the islands’ real needs.