Reference fares for inter-island flights rise by 7%
The Spanish government has updated the reference fares for several inter-island air routes in the Canary Islands, a move that directly affects Tenerife. The average increase will be 7% across ten connections covered by the Public Service Obligation (PSO) regime. For Tenerife, the update impacts five routes: Gran Canaria-Tenerife North, Gran Canaria-Tenerife South, Tenerife North-Fuerteventura, Tenerife North-El Hierro, Tenerife North-Lanzarote and Tenerife North-La Palma.
How reference fares work
These reference fares are designed to cap the sale prices of certain flights between the islands, serving as a benchmark for routes considered essential to guaranteeing mobility for residents of the archipelago. The measure was approved by the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility through a ministerial order that will take immediate effect upon publication in Spain’s Official State Gazette (BOE).
However, the reference fare does not necessarily equate to the final price each passenger pays for their ticket. It functions as a base price or limit within the state-regulated inter-island routes operating under the PSO system. Consequently, a 7% increase in the reference fare does not automatically mean all tickets will become more expensive by the same proportion. Instead, the update gives airlines more leeway to set prices on these connections, while still respecting the established limits for these routes.
Impact on residents and final prices
The final price of a ticket can vary depending on the airline, availability, how far in advance the flight is booked, and the conditions of each fare. For Canary Islands residents, a 75% subsidy on air travel is also applied, significantly reducing the amount they ultimately pay.
The update includes several routes linked to Tenerife’s airports. Among these are the Gran Canaria-Tenerife North route, one of the busiest air connections in the archipelago, as well as the Gran Canaria-Tenerife South link. Reference fares are also being modified on the Tenerife North-Fuerteventura, Tenerife North-El Hierro, Tenerife North-Lanzarote and Tenerife North-La Palma routes. These connections are used daily by residents travelling for work, healthcare, family visits, administrative matters or study. They also form part of the transport network enabling island-hopping for visitors and professionals.
The central government notes that the potential impact of this increase on users is offset by the air travel subsidy for Canary Islands residents. Currently, residents of the islands benefit from a 75% discount on inter-island flight fares, provided they meet the requirements to access this subsidy. This means that, even with updated reference fares, the final price a resident pays will be lower than the full ticket cost, thanks to this public assistance.
Routes unaffected by the increase
The update does not apply to all public service air routes in the Canary Islands. Three connections will retain their current reference fares: Gran Canaria-La Palma, Gran Canaria-La Gomera and Tenerife North-La Gomera. For Tenerife, this means the Tenerife North-La Gomera route will not be affected by this increase and will maintain its existing fare conditions.
Broader changes across the archipelago
In addition to routes involving Tenerife, the reference fare increase will affect other inter-island connections. These include Gran Canaria-Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria-El Hierro, Gran Canaria-Lanzarote and La Palma-Lanzarote. In total, the ministerial order modifies the public service obligations for ten of the thirteen inter-island routes covered under this regime, which was established by a Council of Ministers agreement on 2 June 2006. The purpose of these obligations is to ensure that regular flights exist between the islands, even on routes considered essential for mobility within the archipelago.
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