Spanish opposition party PP is urging the government to intervene and halt the forthcoming airport tax increase, which they believe unfairly penalizes the Canary Islands.
The Canarian Popular Party has announced its firm opposition to a planned increase in airport taxes in the Canary Islands, arguing that it would negatively impact connectivity, the local economy, and citizen mobility.
This stance is rooted in concerns that higher airport fees would raise the cost of travel to and within the islands, potentially reducing tourism—a key economic sector—and complicating transportation for residents. The Canary Islands, with its geographical isolation, relies heavily on air connectivity for economic activity, access to goods and services, and the mobility of its citizens.
The Canarian Popular Party's concerns are not new. Past attempts to introduce tourist taxes in parts of the Canary Islands, such as the €0.15 per person per day tax imposed briefly in Mogán, Gran Canaria, faced legal pushback and were blocked by courts due to concerns over disproportionate burdens and poor regulation.
Rosa Viera, vice-secretary of the sectorial party in the Canary Islands and autonomous senator, has stated that the Canary Islands is a ultra-peripheral territory recognised by the European Union. She has demanded that the Spanish Government "take action" on a decision that affects "millions of Canarians."
The Canarian Popular Party plans to take this issue to both the Congress and the Senate through parliamentary initiatives. The party believes that Canarias cannot afford to pay more to fly and asserts that the central government has the "obligation" to ensure that Aena's airport policy does not create inequality between territories or penalize the most vulnerable regions in terms of connectivity.
Viera denounced that Aena is not considering the differential reality of territories like the Canary Islands in its decisions. She argued that Aena is adopting decisions from a "centralist and purely economic perspective," without considering the unique challenges faced by the Canary Islands.
The party's corrective or compensatory mechanisms will be in line with what the framework for the action of the Ultra-peripheral Regions (RUP) of the EU establishes. These measures are intended to protect the rights of Canarian citizens and ensure "accessible and sustainable" connectivity for the Archipelago.
In summary, the Canarian Popular Party’s stance against the airport tax increase highlights the interdependence of connectivity, economic vitality, and citizen mobility in the Canary Islands. Higher airport fees could disrupt these crucial aspects, potentially causing economic hardship and limiting the mobility of islanders.
- The Canarian Popular Party intends to discuss the planned airport tax increase with both the Congress and the Senate, as they believe the central government has an "obligation" to ensure fair policies for all regions, particularly in terms of connectivity for the Canary Islands.
- Aena's decisions regarding airport policies are criticized by the Canarian Popular Party, who argue that the agency is not considering the unique challenges faced by the Canary Islands, such as its geographical isolation and reliance on air connectivity for economic activity and mobility.
- The Canarian Popular Party's measures to address the airport tax issue will be in accordance with the framework for the action of the Ultra-peripheral Regions (RUP) of the EU, aiming to protect the rights of Canarian citizens and maintain "accessible and sustainable" connectivity for the Archipelago, emphasizing its interdependence with the local economy and citizen mobility.
