President García reiterates concern over Fuerteventura's air traffic control situation
Following the reduction of operating hours at El Hierro Airport due to a shortage of controllers, the union warns that the situation could spread to other airports run by the same private company, such as Fuerteventura.
The president of the Cabildo of Fuerteventura, Lola García, has once again voiced her alarm over the deteriorating air‑traffic‑control service at Fuerteventura Airport, stating that the issue is “especially concerning now that we have learned El Hierro Airport is cutting its schedule because of a lack of controllers.”
According to data from the air‑traffic‑controllers’ union USCA, the problem could extend to other Canary Islands airports operated by the private firm Saerco, including Lanzarote and La Palma. García emphasized:
“We are again demanding urgent solutions that guarantee the continuity and quality of the service.”
Both the Cabildo of Fuerteventura and USCA have repeatedly appealed to the Ministry of Transport and Mobility to intervene and restore public management of the service until it can be provided with full guarantees. Their requests have been met with the following responses:
- AENA claims the service remains guaranteed.
- Saerco, however, has admitted in court that it cannot deliver the service under proper labour conditions, rendering the operation unviable and jeopardising safe, efficient, and continuous air traffic control.
Key figures
- Since July 2025, staffing at the Fuerteventura control tower has fallen from 15 to 10 controllers.
- The impact is already evident, mirroring the situation at El Hierro, and threatens the image, operation, and safety of this strategic infrastructure.
The union and local authorities stress that urgent measures are needed not only for Fuerteventura but also for other priority issues affecting the Canary Islands’ air‑traffic network.