State proposes transferring two aerodromes and nine heliports to the Canary Islands

The Canary government would manage the Antigua aerodrome in Fuerteventura and another in Gran Canaria

The Spanish Government has incorporated two aerodromes and nine helipads spread across five islands into its proposal to transfer exclusive competence over ports, airports, helipads and other transport infrastructures that are not classified as of general interest to the Canary Islands.

According to sources from the Ministry of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, the aerodromes in question are Antigua (Fuerteventura) and El Berriel (Gran Canaria).

The nine helipads are located at:

• Artenara, Gran Canaria University Hospital, and the PalmasPort port in Gran Canaria
• San Sebastián (La Gomera)
• Puntagorda (La Palma)
• Adeje, Canary Islands University Hospital, Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital, and La Guancha (Tenerife)

The ministry, headed by Ángel Víctor Torres, announced on Monday morning that it would forward its proposal to the Canary Government, seeking to transfer exclusive competence over transport infrastructures that are not of general interest.

The initiative has been endorsed by the Ministry of Transport after the regional executive repeatedly requested joint airport management. The ministerial department described this move as the first step toward managing airports that are not of general interest, while negotiations continue between the central and Canary governments regarding infrastructures that are classified as of general interest.

The Canary Government Labels the Announcement a “Fake News”

The Canary Government’s response came from Pablo Rodríguez, Councillor for Public Works, Housing and Mobility, during a press conference. Rodríguez dismissed the ministerial announcement as a “fake news” claim, arguing that ports and airports not of general interest have already belonged to the archipelago since the 2018 reform of the Statute of Autonomy.

“What we have been discussing throughout this legislative term is that the material means be transferred to us so we can exercise that competence and that we be allowed to participate, as the Statute of Autonomy states, in the airports of general interest,” Rodríguez emphasized, highlighting the “enormous surprise” felt by the regional executive upon hearing the State’s proposal.