Canarian Parliament approves proposal to address airport delays and demands more resources

The Canarian Parliament has passed a resolution calling for an increase in the number of police officers at the region's airports to help manage passport control more efficiently. The proposal also urges the installation of biometric passport machines, which are already present at some airports but are currently non-operational.

The proposal is initially focused on Tenerife South Airport, the seventh busiest in Spain, which has recently been plagued by long queues at passport control for a number of months, especially noticeable since border regulations introduced by the UK leaving the EU. However, following an amendment, the request was extended to include all airports in the Canary Islands, with particular attention given to Lanzarote's César Manrique Airport, which has also faced significant delays since the introduction of passport stamping for third-country nationals this year.

In addition to addressing staffing and equipment issues, there has been growing support for the creation of a Canarian Airport Authority. Armando Santana, President of the Mixed Group in Lanzarote’s Cabildo, has called on the Cabildo President to push the Spanish government for the establishment of such an authority. "It’s unacceptable that an airport with the potential and profitability of César Manrique is not receiving the investment and facilities it needs," Santana stated, emphasising the importance of proper investment in the region’s infrastructure.

The call for greater investment and better facilities comes as tourist numbers continue to rise in the Canary Islands, putting increased pressure on the airports’ capacity and efficiency.

If you're visiting the Canary islands and looking for things to do in Lanzarote or things to do in Tenerife then check out our great selection of trips, activities and things to see and do.