Aena, the company that manages Spain’s airport network, used a high-level meeting on 21 July in Tenerife Sur to defuse mounting tension with Canarian bus and coach operators over new charges for airport parking. Senior executives—including Commercial & Real-Estate Director María José Cuenda and Mobility Director Carmen Peraita—met with the regional government, the cabildos of Tenerife and Lanzarote, and the Canary Islands Transport Federation (FET) to explain how the new dedicated parking areas for discretionary transport will work. Under the original plan, vehicles that exceeded a 60-minute grace period would begin paying fees from 1 September 2026. Tour operators, cruise-ship transfer companies and coach firms warned that the tariff—applied during peak pick-up windows—would add significant costs just as they ramp up capacity for the record 17 million visitors expected in winter 2026/27. After weeks of lobbying, Aena has now agreed to postpone billing until January 2027, giving operators an additional tourist season to adapt their timetables and driver rostering. Beyond the delay, Aena promised to upgrade the “waiting lots” where coaches queue before entering the arrivals lanes. Shade structures, toilets and vending machines will be installed to improve working conditions for drivers who sometimes wait more than an hour during flight-bank peaks. The company also confirmed that the new RFID proximity cards—designed to automate entry and exit and allow payment in arrears—will be available free of charge to all authorised operators. For business-travel managers the decision is significant: Tenerife Sur (TFS) handled 15 percent of Spain’s MICE traffic last year, while César Manrique–Lanzarote (ACE) is the primary gateway for incentive groups headed to the Canary archipelago’s eastern islands. A postponement of the fee removes an unexpected cost for conferences already booked for Q4 2026 and the first half of 2027. Travel buyers should, however, alert ground-transport suppliers that the charge will come into force next year and build the extra cost into 2027 budgets. From a policy standpoint, the episode shows how Spain’s airport operator is trying to balance sustainability goals—reducing congestion at terminal kerbsides—with the practical realities of island mobility, where buses remain the backbone of tourist and expatriate transport. Stakeholders agreed to reconvene in December 2026 to review data on coach dwell times and decide whether further adjustments are needed before the fees start.
Source: Aena Press Release
