Canary Islands accuses Aena of raising fees to benefit private shareholders

The president of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, denounced the airport‑fee increase announced by Aena for 2026, arguing that it is intended to “plug holes” and enrich private shareholders rather than benefit the Canary community.

“That increase will not translate into wealth for the Canary people,” Clavijo told journalists at the Fitur tourism fair. He added that Aena had decided “unilaterally, without seeking agreement or consensus, to raise the fees, effectively milking the Canary airports to plug holes and benefit private shareholders.”

Clavijo highlighted the uncertainty surrounding the future of British and German tourism— the two main source markets— and warned that the fee hike could jeopardise the sector’s contribution to the regional economy. He called for the Canary Islands’ autonomous statute to be invoked so that the region can retain control over tourism management, ensuring that it remains a source of wealth, stable and quality employment, with the benefits staying primarily in the hands of Canary residents.

Improving the Distribution of Tourism Wealth

Despite the day being marked by mourning, Clavijo emphasized that it is also a day of work, as the new Fitur season begins. He noted that 2025 was a “good year,” with 18.4 million tourists, and set out the following goals for 2026:

• Continue growth while enhancing the distribution of tourism‑generated wealth across the islands.
• Focus on quality, leisure, and environmental protection, introducing innovative measures such as a fee for access to the Teide National Park to control visitor numbers and safeguard the ecosystem.
• Provide legal certainty and develop more selective tourism products that generate higher value, encouraging visitors to spend on culture and gastronomy.

Clavijo stressed that tourism remains the principal source of employment and wealth in the Canary Islands, accounting for approximately 281,000 direct jobs. He called for policies that keep this wealth within the region and promote sustainable, high‑value tourism.