Advocacy group fights for affordable air travel
The association Canarios Sin Alas, which pursues justice in air mobility, has expressed this week its “deep concern” about the recent response of the European Commission to the proposal to establish Public Service Obligations (PSO) with maximum prices on certain routes between mainland Spain and extra-peninsular territories, such as the Canary Islands. The situation leaves thousands of families facing what the organization describes as “condemnation to disconnection.”
European Commission rejects price regulation proposals
In a statement, the organization has denounced the content of a letter sent to the Spanish Government by the European Commission, which argues that routes such as Lanzarote-Madrid, Menorca-Barcelona or Melilla-Madrid do not meet the requirements to apply PSO. The Commission’s reasoning centers on these routes already being operated by several airlines and having a high number of passengers, which the advocacy group says “ignores” the reality of “thousands of Canary Islands citizens” living outside the islands.
Nearly 50,000 signatures support the campaign
Following the collection of almost 50,000 signatures, Canarios Sin Alas is seeking meetings with representatives of different political parties and conducting technical analysis. They believe that price regulation is “the best option” to bring the Canary Islands closer to the rest of Spain and “avoid inequalities” that affect both residents and visitors to the archipelago.
High costs impact family connections and emergency travel
The organization warns that Brussels’ technical criteria “overlooks” the situation of Canary Islanders living on the mainland, who maintain strong links with the islands but cannot afford “exorbitant” prices, especially during key periods such as school holidays or Christmas. This pricing structure significantly impacts both residents and tourists planning visits to the islands during peak seasons.
“It is unfair and degrading that an emergency visit to a family funeral can cost more than 700 euros in airfare. There are families separated by the sea who cannot comply with a visiting regime or shared custody due to the high cost of flights,” the group laments. The emotional and financial burden extends beyond residents to affect anyone with family or business connections requiring travel between the islands and mainland Spain.
Current resident discounts insufficient for many travelers
The advocacy group points out that current aid measures, such as the 75% discount for residents, do not cover descendants, emigrants from the Canary Islands, or relatives living on the Peninsula. In their opinion, this represents “clear discrimination and breaks the right to family reunion,” affecting not only permanent residents but also those with ancestral ties to the islands who wish to visit.
Calls for regulatory changes and political action
Specifically, the organization asks the European Commission to reconsider its position and to modify or supplement Regulation 1008/2008, considering real solutions for routes to the Canary Islands, not only from the Canary Islands. They emphasize the need for price caps to be allowed on air routes in exceptional social and structural circumstances, which would benefit both residents making essential trips and tourists seeking affordable access to the islands.
Additionally, they have asked political leaders to “act with courage” to seek alternative solutions to help alleviate this situation that “condemns thousands of families to disconnection.” The resolution of this issue would not only reconnect separated families but also potentially make the beautiful Canary Islands more accessible to visitors seeking to experience their unique culture, landscapes, and attractions.
