New Automated Parking Barriers Cause Severe Congestion at Canary Islands Airports
New automated parking barriers at Tenerife South and Lanzarote airports are causing severe traffic congestion and disrupting public transport, prompting calls for their immediate removal.
Airports in the Canary Islands are facing significant operational issues, specifically at the Tenerife South and Lanzarote terminals. The Canary Islands Federation of Transport Companies reports that new automated parking barriers for buses have caused severe congestion, disrupting both the tourism sector and local public transport.
Since Aena installed these barriers on January 15, the flow of traffic has been frequently blocked. Drivers must now validate their access using a ticketing system, and recurring technical glitches with the gates have turned what was once a smooth process into a major bottleneck, trapping vehicles at airport exits.
José Ángel Hernández, secretary general of the Federation, warns that this is a serious mobility issue. The delays are affecting not only private tour operators but also Titsa’s public bus lines, leading to poor service and missed schedules. Furthermore, passengers are often left waiting inside stalled vehicles for long periods, which the Federation describes as an unacceptable standard of service.
The transport association is now calling on Aena and local authorities to remove these control systems and restore normal operations. They argue that airport management must better account for the specific needs of bus traffic to ensure these vital transport hubs remain efficient for the regional economy.