The Balearic and Canary Islands are at a substantial risk of losing their air connections. The airlines have issued a warning, claiming that the central government’s “non-payments” for subsidised tickets for island residents are “suffocating” the companies. The companies have been obligated to advance these subsidies, which comprise 75% of the ticket price.

The Association of Airlines (ALA) has denounced this situation, asserting that certain companies that operate flights between the islands and the peninsula “could be compelled to cease operations on some of these routes or reduce frequencies as a result of the unsustainable situation and economic suffocation caused by the Government’s non-payment of approximately 810 million euros by January 2025.”

In Spain, the demand for these connections has increased by 9.6% since 2023. This circumstance is not unfamiliar to Alicante-Elche Airport. From the El Altet terminal, numerous airlines operate routes between the Balearic Islands and Alicante and the Canary Islands. Aena data indicates that traffic with these islands comprises 34% of the national total recorded in 2024.

The situation is concerning, as Palma de Mallorca is the second busiest domestic route at the Alicante terminal, with 497,547 passengers in 2024, representing an 8.5% increase from the previous year. The sixth and seventh busiest routes at the airport are Ibiza, with 176,592 passengers (26% more), and Tenerife, with 155,000 passengers (19.9% more). With 57,460 passengers in 2024 and a 39% increase, Gran Canaria is the eleventh busiest domestic connection.

Vueling, Ryanair, Iberojet, and Air Nostrum operate flights to Ibiza, while Air Europa, Iberojet, Ryanair, Enter Air, and Vueling operate flights to Palma de Mallorca. Ryanair, Vueling, and Enter Air provide connections between Tenerife and the Canary Islands, while Vueling serves Alicante and Gran Canaria.

The situation has been further complicated by the postponement in the General State Budget (GSE). The 2023 GSE was allocated 560.81 million euros by the government, an amount that ALA maintains has been “significantly exceeded” by demand that has exceeded expectations. ” They assert that the Contingency Fund has contributed an additional 170 million euros to this sum in order to finance credit modifications; however, they maintain that it still falls short.

ALA has expressed apprehension that the new extension will result in an increase in this debt to €1.5 billion. Javier Gándara, the president of the association, maintained that this allocation is “inadequately funded” and that it has been extended until 2023, rendering it “completely inadequate to cover the subsidies of up to 75% on air service fares.”

According to Gándara, the circumstance “is compromising the financial sustainability of these airlines to the point that, if this continues, it could make the operation of some of these routes unviable, seriously affecting the connectivity of the Canary and Balearic Islands.” Consequently, the president of ALA is urging the government to promptly pay the companies that operate these routes.

Simultaneously, Gándara emphasises the necessity of “correcting this situation in the future with sufficiently funded and more realistic budget allocations.” ALA anticipates additional delays in the upcoming year, during which the allocation for subsidies for residents will remain at €60.8 million. The anticipated expenditure for this year is €1.2 billion, and the outstanding €810 million must be added.

Airlines are merely intermediaries who are accountable for the program’s execution. They act as collaborating entities of the Administration in accordance with the established regulations, applying the legally established subsidy percentage at the time of ticket purchase and subsequently paying the Administration, in this case the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC), the remaining amount after the passenger has completed the trip subject to the corresponding discount.

The DGAC is accountable for the management of the budgetary appropriations that have been allocated to cover the subsidy and for the payment of the subsidy amounts to the airlines. In summary, the airlines apply the subsidy to the resident’s ticket, which the government must subsequently settle through the DGAC, using an expandable appropriation from the General Budget. The Ministry of Finance reserves the right to increase the allocated quantity in the event that it is surpassed.

Torrevieja experienced a stroke of luck on Sunday 16th March. In the draw that took place at weekend, a fortunate individual was awarded €84,942.06 for matching fourteen times. The winning ticket was validated in the receiving office number 32,710, which is situated in the Los Balcones residential area at the establishment “Kiosko d’Aaron,” on Ángel García Rogel Avenue.

In addition, five additional successful tickets were selected in other regions of Spain, with fourteen matches. In particular, two wagers were validated at Lottery Office No. 270 in Barcelona, while the other winning tickets were validated at No. 410 in Madrid, No. 2 in Fuenlabrada (Madrid), and No. 48,025 in Haro (La Rioja).

Alicante is anticipating six visits from tour operators and correspondents who specialise in MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and events) tourism, as well as vacation and gastronomic tourism. The Alicante City & Beach Tourist Board will provide support for these promotional activities, which are referred to as “fam trips” and “press trips,” from March 20th to April 6th.

International tour operators are placing their bets on Alicante.

The initial of these excursions will be conducted by Jet2, a British tour operator with the third-highest number of connections at Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernández Airport. The company has scheduled two business trips: on March 20th and April 2nd. During these excursions, its agents will have the opportunity to personally experience local establishments and experiences before recommending the destination to their clients. Jet2, a company that specialises in vacation packages and city breaks, continues to prioritise Alicante as one of its primary destinations.

Evolution Travel, an Italian tour operator, will conduct a “fam trip” from March 23rd to 26th to investigate the city’s tourist attractions and promote travel packages and experiences to the Italian market.

The tourist attractions of Alicante will be discovered by journalists from New York.

On March 23rd and 24th, Alicante will be visited by a group of tourism correspondents from New York. The Spanish Tourism Office in New York, in collaboration with the Alicante Costa Blanca Provincial Council and the Regional Ministry of Tourism, is currently organising an excursion to capitalise on the increasing interest in the city among the American market.

The journalists will have the opportunity to visit a variety of iconic locations, including the Old Town, Santa Cruz, San Nicolás Cathedral, the Esplanade, and the seafront, during their visit. Additionally, they will be provided with comprehensive information regarding Alicante, the Spanish Capital of Gastronomy, and will have the opportunity to participate in a culinary workshop to acquire the skills necessary to prepare rice dishes. They will also be treated to a gastronomic tour of the Central Market.

Alicante is also a focus of MICE tourism.

A delegation of ten MICE tourism specialists from various regions of the United Kingdom will arrive in Alicante on March 28th in conjunction with the Spanish Tourist Board in London. Their objective is to acquire knowledge regarding the city’s potential for organising incentive excursions, conferences, and events. They will have the opportunity to visit Santa Bárbara Castle, one of the most alluring locations for this type of tourism, as well as the city’s most iconic monuments.

On Czech television, the cuisine of Alicante is in the spotlight.

Czech television will also transmit Alicante’s international promotion. Between April 4th and 6th, the culinary program “Foodies Viajando” will air a special on the city’s gastronomy, with filming taking place in various locations across the country. Ondrej Ruml, a Czech actor, will serve as a special visitor on the program. He will disclose the culinary traditions and flavours of Alicante.

A significant contribution to the promotion of tourism in Alicante

These visits serve to bolster Alicante’s international market image and solidify its status as an appealing destination for travellers from a diverse range of demographics. Due to the collaboration between the public and private sectors, the city has maintained its status as a premier destination in a variety of sectors, including leisure tourism, gastronomy, and MICE..