Wednesday, May 28, 2025

Spain’s Canary Islands face airport chaos as César Manrique Airport nears capacity, causing long delays amid soaring tourist numbers and urgent calls for upgrades.

As the Canary Islands prepare for what promises to be an exceptionally busy summer season, one of their smaller airports is struggling to keep pace with the soaring demand. Despite ongoing protests across the region opposing tourism growth, the islands continue to attract millions of visitors every year, putting intense pressure on local infrastructure, particularly at key transport hubs.

For travelers from the UK and beyond planning their holidays to the Canary Islands, warnings have been issued about persistent disruptions at one of the area’s busiest airports. In the past year, the island group located off Africa’s northwest coast welcomed an impressive total of 15.5 million international travelers. This influx came despite vocal anti-tourism demonstrations where locals called on holidaymakers to leave, urging them to “go home” in an effort to address concerns over overcrowding and environmental strain.

Among the several airports servicing the Canary Islands, César Manrique Airport—also known as Arrecife Airport—on the island of Lanzarote has seen a particularly sharp rise in passenger numbers. According to Aena, Spain’s dominant airport operator, approximately 8.7 million travelers passed through this airport in 2024 alone. This figure represents over half of the archipelago’s international arrivals, highlighting just how crucial this airport is as a gateway to the islands.

Although it plays a vital role, César Manrique Airport struggles to handle the high number of travelers passing through. With only a single runway and a relatively small duty-free area, the airport is nearing its designed capacity, which stands at around nine million passengers annually. The constraints of its infrastructure mean that the airport frequently becomes congested, especially during peak travel times. As a result, passengers often endure long wait times, particularly at passport control, where queues can stretch for hours.

An in-depth report by Canarian Weekly sheds light on the root causes of the airport’s ongoing operational difficulties. The publication identifies three critical factors contributing to the chaos: staff shortages, faulty or outdated equipment, and an insufficiently sized passport control area. These problems have collectively created a severe bottleneck at this key point of entry, hampering the airport’s efficiency and frustrating travelers.

Local authorities and airport management have recognized the need for urgent improvements and have made commitments to enhance the facility. However, despite these promises, the airport has struggled to keep pace with the rapid growth in passenger numbers. The pressure on staff and resources continues to mount, making it difficult to provide the level of service that travelers expect and deserve.

In response to these challenges, the Spanish National Police made a significant announcement last month. They revealed plans to deploy 45 additional immigration officers to the César Manrique Airport, a move designed to nearly double the current border control workforce at the facility. This increase in personnel aims to ease the pressure on passport control lines and help expedite the processing of arriving passengers.

If successfully implemented, the boost in immigration staff is expected to improve passenger flow significantly, reducing wait times and smoothing the arrival experience. For many travelers, this could be a welcome relief from the prolonged delays that have become all too common at the airport during busy periods.

Nevertheless, while this staffing increase is a positive step, experts argue that more comprehensive and long-term solutions are necessary to fully address the airport’s challenges. Expanding infrastructure, upgrading equipment, and redesigning passenger processing areas are all measures that will likely be required to support the Canary Islands’ continued popularity as a holiday destination.

The situation at César Manrique Airport also underscores the broader tension faced by the Canary Islands in balancing tourism growth with local concerns. On one hand, tourism is a vital economic engine for the region, providing jobs and income to thousands of residents. On the other hand, the influx of millions of visitors has led to overcrowding, environmental degradation, and social unrest, with protests signaling residents’ frustrations.

As the busy summer season approaches, all eyes will be on how effectively the airport manages the incoming passenger surge. Travelers and locals alike hope that recent efforts to improve operations will pay off, ensuring that visitors can enjoy the islands without enduring excessive delays or discomfort.

While the Canary Islands continue to captivate holidaymakers with their stunning landscapes and warm climate, the infrastructure supporting this booming tourism sector is being pushed to its limits. César Manrique Airport’s struggle to handle growing demand amid staffing shortages and limited facilities highlights the urgent need for investment and modernization. With planned increases in immigration staff and promised upgrades, there is cautious optimism that the airport can better meet the challenges ahead and maintain its role as a key gateway to one of Europe’s most beloved holiday destinations.