Parliament Backs Major Parking Discount for Island Residents
The Parliament of the Canary Islands has approved a motion calling for a 75% discount on parking fees at the archipelago’s airports for residents. The initiative passed with votes in favour from all groups except Vox, which abstained. The specific discount percentage was verbally outlined by Popular Party (PP) deputy Jacob Qadri during the defence of the non-legislative proposal, as it was not originally specified in the text.
Priority Groups for the Proposed Discount
An amendment from Nueva Canarias (NC) was added to detail which groups should be prioritised for the discount. These include residents travelling to another island for healthcare, studies, or regularly for work, as well as single-parent families, those on low incomes, and carers. The debate saw unanimous agreement that flying between the islands is a necessity and that, on occasion, parking at an airport can cost more than the flight ticket itself.
Cross-Party Criticism of Aena’s “Obligatory Toll”
Jacob Qadri (PP) argued that just as the Spanish state subsidises 75% of flight costs for Canary Islands residents, it should do the same for airport parking, which he said Aena has turned into an “obligatory toll”. Carmen Hernández (NC) stated that every time Aena is discussed in the Canary Parliament, it is to denounce “another chapter of suffocation for this community,” in this case the “brutal and barefaced” hike in parking tariffs.
Political Reactions and Broader Demands
Raúl Acosta (AHI) anticipated Aena’s refusal of the request, countering potential arguments about technical complexity by remarking, “if we got to the Moon, we can do this.” Melodie Mendoza (ASG) acknowledged it might not be a simple matter but stressed the need to persevere in finding a formula for reasonable prices. Paula Jover (Vox) justified her group’s abstention, arguing that NC’s amendment contradicted the existing 75% flight discount for residents, which has no social preference criteria.
Yonathan Martín (CC) suggested that if the Canary Islands had a role in airport management, parking tariffs would be set “with people in mind.” Marcos Bergaz (PSOE) reiterated that his party in the Canaries does not agree with certain Aena decisions, like the current parking prices, noting they had protested earlier moves such as the elimination of free half-hour parking and had demanded parking spaces for airport workers. Bergaz urged the parties supporting the Canary Islands Government to take the text and spirit of this initiative and apply it to hospital car parks as well.
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