Lola García Becomes New President of the Canary Islands Federation
The FECAI calls for solutions to guarantee the quality of air‑traffic control services at the airports of La Palma, El Hierro, Fuerteventura and Lanzarote.
Lola García, president of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, assumed the presidency of the Canary Islands Federation (FECAI) on 22 January during a session held at FITUR 2026. In her inauguration speech, García urged the island councils to work together on issues that are priorities for the archipelago’s residents.
Demographic Challenge
García highlighted the demographic pressure facing the Canary Islands and the growing impact of population growth on island life.
“This pressure directly affects housing, water, mobility and public services. Regulating population growth is not about closing doors; it is about planning so we can guarantee essential services.”
She added:
“Protecting our territory, which makes us unique, means protecting who we are.”
Air‑Traffic Control
During the session, FECAI approved a joint statement from the island councils concerning the management of air‑traffic control services at the Canary airports—specifically La Palma, El Hierro, Lanzarote and Fuerteventura—currently operated by the private company SAERCO.
The Air Controllers’ Union (USCA) has publicly requested that the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility temporarily suspend SAERCO’s accreditation and transfer control of the airport towers to the public company ENAIRE. The union argues this step is necessary to ensure service continuity, safety, and the protection of labor rights, noting that SAERCO has admitted in court it cannot guarantee the service fully. The situation at El Hierro Airport, which has already reduced its public opening hours, underscores the urgency.
The island councils, through FECAI, therefore demand that air‑traffic control be provided under the strict safety, continuity and reliability standards required by law, calling for a return to public management of the control towers.
Additionally, the islands of El Hierro and La Gomera are demanding the immediate replacement of the AFIS system—currently implemented by AENA—with a professional air‑controller service. This change would:
- Ensure full operational capability and enhance safety during take‑offs and landings.
- Improve service quality and reduce flight cancellations caused by weather, as pilots could receive direct guidance from the control tower.
- Increase overall connectivity for both islands.
Defense of Artisanal Fishing
FECAI also agreed to back the Canary Government and the island councils in defending artisanal fishing against the rigid and disproportionate application of the new EU Fisheries Control Regulation. The regulation imposes obligations that are technically unfeasible and detached from the operational reality of the local fleet.
Among the most harmful measures are:
- A mandatory four‑hour port‑arrival notice for vessels 12 m or longer, even when they fish just minutes from the coast.
- The requirement to declare all catches from “zero kilogram” via an electronic onboard log, a capability that artisanal boats simply do not possess.
These demands create legal uncertainty, expose fishers to disproportionate sanctions, impose an unmanageable administrative and technological burden, and potentially jeopardize maritime safety.
In response, FECAI urges the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to advocate before the European Commission for the application of flexibilities granted to outermost regions, ensuring the regulation is adapted to the unique characteristics of the Canary fleet. The federation also plans to request exemptions or adaptations for the Canary small‑boat fleet concerning the most damaging aspects of the regulation. The agreement has been forwarded to the Canary Government, the Spanish Government, the national parliament, the European Commission, and the Canary fishing guilds.