The President of the Lanzarote Island Council, Oswaldo Betancort, has assessed Ryanair’s decision to reduce some of its operations in the Canary Islands, emphasising that the impact on Lanzarote will be minimal.
Flight Reductions
According to the data, Lanzarote’s weekly flights will decrease from 135 last winter to 131 this winter, which equates to a reduction of just four weekly flights.
Route Changes
In terms of routes, Ryanair will reduce its connections from 40 to 35, discontinuing routes to Marseille, Luton, Turin, Barcelona, and the African destination of Dakhla. Nevertheless, a new connection to Alicante will be added, and frequencies on several routes to the mainland will increase, largely offsetting the reductions.
Insignificant Impact
“The actual effect on Lanzarote is virtually insignificant, both in terms of flights and connectivity. This is a pressure tactic the company has historically maintained with the Spanish government, linked to AENA fees and disputes with competition and consumer authorities,” Betancort remarked.
Strategic Air Connectivity
The president noted that while “no tourist is unwelcome, and we should never be pleased about the reduction of routes,” the Island Council is working to enhance Lanzarote’s air connectivity with airlines that hold greater strategic value and profitability for the destination, such as British Airways, Iberia, and American carriers.
Objective for Sustainable Tourism
“Our objective is to diversify markets and attract a visitor profile that increases average spending at the destination, which means greater wealth for the island and more sustainable tourism over time,” Betancort added.
