A community organization has announced its intention to launch legal and public protests against plans by Aena, the Canary Islands government, and local councils to expand airport facilities in the region. The group argues that these projects represent a hidden increase in operational capacity in an area already affected by climate change and strained public resources.
Investment Under Scrutiny
Aena’s proposal includes a 1.8 billion euro investment from 2027 to 2031 aimed at modernizing and enlarging the islands’ airport terminals. While Aena claims the upgrades—focused on new check-in systems, faster security checks, expanded boarding areas, and improved baggage handling—will not boost traffic since runways remain unchanged, the organization disputes this claim.
The group describes the official rationale as “false and simplistic,” arguing that removing bottlenecks in ground processes is a common tactic to increase an airport’s real operational capacity without building new runways. They believe this narrative is designed to bypass or ease the environmental impact assessment process.
Implications for the Island’s Model
The organization warns that allowing more passengers through terminals will exacerbate the structural issues faced by Canary society. They contrast this significant investment with the archipelago’s social reality, where school classes have been canceled due to heatwaves linked to climate change. Consequently, they demand a real limit on the growth of the tourism model, starting with halting the expansion of the main gateways to the islands.
