The Tenerife Cabildo has stated that progress is being made toward resolving issues affecting taxi services at Tenerife South Airport. This comes in response to criticism from Ashotel, the island’s hotel and hospitality association, which has called for the airport to be declared a “sensitive area” to address the long queues for taxis.
The low operational efficiency of Tenerife South Airport is because only taxis from Granadilla de Abona, the municipality the airport is based in, are allowed to collect people from the airport. All other taxis are allowed to drop people off but not pick up new fares.
Eulalia García, the Cabildo’s Councillor for Mobility, explained that the government’s proposal involves allowing taxis from other municipalities to operate at the airport during peak times as the operators from Granadilla can’t cope.
However, García acknowledged there is resistance to the proposal from the Granadilla de Abona Council and the local taxi cooperative, who say there will be a negative effect on the taxi drivers. To address these concerns, the Mobility Department commissioned a comprehensive study to analyse tourist influx patterns and transportation demands at the airport.
The findings, she stated, will form a critical first step toward declaring Tenerife South Airport a sensitive area, a move designed to streamline taxi operations and reduce passenger waiting times.
Despite these efforts, Ashotel President Jorge Marichal remains sceptical. Speaking earlier this week, he stressed that the situation has been going on unresolved for far too long.
The issue has also drawn criticism from hoteliers who described the lengthy queues for taxis as “unacceptable.” They have highlighted the inconvenience faced by both tourists and residents, resulting in negative impact on the island’s reputation.
The Councillor for Mobility echoed this sentiment while addressing another pressing concern: the prolonged waits faced by non-EU passengers at customs checkpoints in Tenerife South Airport. García called for an urgent increase in human and technical resources to alleviate delays.
“Border controls should not continue to be a source of complaints and frustration,” she said. Ashotel has similarly criticised the insufficient staffing and technological resources, which have led to queues spilling into airport taxiways at times.
As Tenerife grapples with these challenges, the focus remains on implementing practical, long-term solutions to enhance the airport’s functionality and improve the experience for passengers.
