A new technological system for controlling taxi access is being progressively introduced at Gran Canaria Airport, with authorities saying it will provide tighter oversight of vehicles entering passenger pick-up areas.

The system uses electronic vehicle identification, automatic number-plate recognition and interconnected digital platforms to establish which vehicles are authorised to enter designated areas of the airport.

It follows an agreement between the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and the councils of Ingenio and Telde, the two municipalities in which the airport is located, to modernise and coordinate the management of taxi services.

For passengers, the objective is to make the busy arrivals area more organised and ensure vehicles entering controlled pick-up zones have the appropriate authorisation.

New controls at passenger pick-up areas

The technology connects the island's TRANSFER platform, used for previously authorised pick-up services, with the SG-TAXI system used by Ingenio and Telde.

Automatic number-plate recognition will allow vehicles to be checked as they enter controlled areas, while information about authorised services can be shared between the different systems.

The project received €60,000 in funding from the Cabildo de Gran Canaria under the agreement signed earlier this year.

The new controls are also intended to provide authorities with more accurate information about vehicle movements, periods of peak demand and use of the different taxi and authorised pick-up areas.

This information could then be used when making future decisions about how ground transport is organised at the airport.

Traffic controls stepped up

The changes come alongside increased traffic enforcement around the airport's arrivals and departures areas.

Ingenio Local Police says controls have been intensified to prevent inappropriate parking and concentrations of vehicles that could interfere with traffic circulation or affect access from the GC-1 motorway.

The airport has to accommodate conventional taxis alongside pre-booked taxis, private hire vehicles, coaches, buses and private cars, making the management of the roads immediately outside the terminal particularly important.

Authorities say the automated system will complement, rather than replace, the coordinators already responsible for organising taxi activity.

Wider changes for pre-booked vehicles

Separate changes are also being introduced for pre-booked transport using the airport.

A new control point is being prepared for pre-booked taxis, with authorised vehicles identified before entering the airport. The procedure is expected to extend to taxis from municipalities across Gran Canaria rather than being restricted to Ingenio and Telde.

There is also a transitional period for changes affecting other pre-booked transport operations around the arrivals area, with the revised arrangements currently expected to become fully operational from 15th October.

The broader objective is to reduce congestion, improve circulation around arrivals and establish clearer control over which vehicles are using the airport's different passenger collection areas.

For travellers, there is no suggestion that the normal airport taxi service is being removed or that passengers will need to register to use a taxi. The changes are principally aimed at controlling vehicle access and the organisation of pick-ups behind the scenes.