Fuerteventura Airport to Upgrade Security with State-of-the-Art Technology
Pedro Sánchez, the President of the Government, announced on Thursday a proposal for investments in Aena airports, totalling around €13 billion from 2027 to 2031, aimed at allowing these facilities to “adapt to growing demand.”
This is reportedly the “largest investment” in decades within this network, with the Canary Islands, particularly the two airports in Tenerife, set to receive approximately €800 million.
The Tenerife South Airport will see a total investment of €550 million, which will include a comprehensive revamp of the terminal area. This will significantly enhance passenger experience, increasing space by nearly 50% — including upgrades to the façade, new check-in areas, and remote boarding lounges — as well as expanding capacity, introducing new technologies, and architecturally integrating the terminal with its environment.
For Tenerife North Airport-Ciudad de La Laguna, the investment will amount to €250 million to expand the terminal building and accommodate anticipated traffic demand through improved processes and increased space, set to grow by over 40%.
Specifically, plans include extending the check-in area and the number of counters, enlarging security checks in the most iconic part of the building, expanding the boarding area and the number of gates, as well as enlarging baggage claim areas and the number of carousels. There will also be functional distribution of parking and access to the airport in coordination with the TF-5 project.
REFORMS IN LANZAROTE
Between 2027 and 2031, significant improvements will also take place at César Manrique-Lanzarote Airport, including process enhancements such as expanding counters and the check-in area, improving security and passport checks, enlarging waiting areas for boarding and the number of gates (creating two boarding zones, one for Schengen traffic and another for non-Schengen), and upgrading the baggage claim area and carousels, as well as enhancing passenger services.
Architectural redesigns will give the airport a distinctive identity for the island of Lanzarote, featuring a unique roof and improvements to interior aesthetics, accessibility, and intermodality. The current space will nearly double, as the two terminals will be connected while maintaining a dedicated area for inter-island flights, as is currently the case.
At Gran Canaria Airport, which previously expanded its building by 68,000 square metres (from the original 105,000 to 173,000), this plan includes upgrading the terminal for new security controls using state-of-the-art technology, facade improvements, and reconfiguring the arrivals hall, along with upgrades to parking facilities.
Additionally, this DORA will involve designing functional layouts in the initial phase of projects, analysing if further significant actions are necessary going forward.
At Fuerteventura Airport, which has seen over €237 million invested in a Modernisation and Expansion Plan in previous years, plans for the next five years include upgrading the terminal for new security controls with the latest technology, renewing electromechanical installations, among others, and analysing whether further extensive actions are required in future plans.
MORE THAN A MILLION FOR EL HIERRO
At El Hierro Airport, improvements are expected in the flight field and platform (new parking position), enhanced safety, and operational security (regenerating pavements), information and communication systems, and sustainability: transitioning to LED lighting and renewing purification systems.
Moreover, an investment of over €1 million will be made to expand the parking area, increasing the number of spaces by nearly 20% and refurbishing the existing area.
At La Palma Airport, improvements to processes and quality in the terminal area are proposed, along with enhancements in the flight field and platform, security improvements, operational security upgrades (expanding the runway strip), information and communication systems, and sustainability initiatives, including the renewal of wind turbines and acoustic insulation.
In previous investment phases, a new terminal, a new control tower, an Automatic Baggage Treatment and Inspection System, a new SEI building, and expansion of the power plant were completed, all with an investment of €225 million.
For La Gomera Airport, plans for the 2027-2031 period involve improvements to processes and quality in the terminal area, upgrades in the flight field and platform, security enhancements, operational security upgrades (renewing the runway surface), along with information and communication systems.
A photovoltaic plan has also been designed, comprising a solar park project that includes two photovoltaic solar plants, each occupying 0.59 hectares and with a nominal power of 0.499 MWn (0.581 MWp).
Regulated investments will be debated as proposed by Aena in the mandatory consultation process with airline companies, a procedure outlined by Law 18/2014.
It will also be presented in the Airport Coordination Committee of each region, consisting of representatives from national and local administrations and the economic and social sectors, as stated by the Government in a communication.
Once the consultation process is complete, the investment proposals will be integrated into the DORA proposal for the period from 2027 to 2031 for further processing until final approval by the Council of Ministers.
