Transport

Ryanair has warned that the new EU digital passport control system is causing severe disruption at Tenerife South Airport, which it has called a “critical hotspot” for delays. The airline is demanding the Spanish government suspend the system until September to prevent a summer travel collapse.

Tenerife’s first double-decker bus hit the road on Tuesday in a trial run. The new TITSA vehicles increase capacity by 44% and feature cameras instead of mirrors, USB ports and an alcohol lock. The service begins on Wednesday 1 July on the 110 and 112 routes between Santa Cruz and the south.

Tenerife’s tram operator Metrotenerife will launch its usual summer service from Monday 29 June, adjusting frequencies to match passenger demand. Line 1 will run every six minutes during weekday peak hours, while Line 2 will operate every 12 minutes. The summer schedule runs in two phases until late August, before a gradual return to winter timetables in September.

The Cabildo of Tenerife has presented a €5 million sustainable mobility strategy for the Anaga Rural Park, based on nearly 1,500 surveys. The plan proposes fewer private cars, more public transport, and smart access management to protect the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve while meeting residents’ needs.

Two massive 1,800-tonne cranes have arrived at the Port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, marking the centrepiece of a €40 million investment programme. The cranes will boost the terminal’s capacity to handle the world’s largest container ships, with operations delayed due to rough seas.

The Cabildo of Tenerife and Aena are finalising the route for the southern train and the tram extension to Los Rodeos airport. A technical meeting was held on Wednesday, with the agreement nearly complete. The southern train will run through the airport at surface level, while the tram line will be extended to the northern airport.

Environmental group ATAN is calling for a halt to construction of the Tenerife Motor Circuit after a new court ruling found the project’s environmental impact assessment expired. The TSJC has ordered the Cabildo to restart the environmental evaluation process, marking the fifth legal setback for the controversial development.

Tenerife’s Cabildo is to introduce a smart bus lane on the TF-5 motorway between Santa Cruz and Los Rodeos. The 6.2 million euro project aims to cut travel times by up to 20% by reserving the left-hand lane for buses, taxis, motorcycles, and vehicles with two or more occupants during peak hours. The plans also include expropriation of land for a third lane on another section of the motorway.