Tenerife South Airport to Undergo €550 Million Modernization Project

Tenerife South Airport is finally set for a major upgrade. Long criticized for being outdated and unable to handle its heavy traffic, the airport has reached a turning point. Operator Aena announced this Thursday that it has opened the bidding process for a project worth over 550 million euros, with construction scheduled to begin in autumn 2027.

This project is part of the 2027-2031 Airport Regulation Document (DORA) and addresses years of pressure from local officials and business leaders. They have long argued that the current facilities, which date back to 1978, are holding back the island's tourism. With passenger numbers expected to hit 14 million in 2025, the airport—the seventh busiest in Spain—is due for a complete overhaul focused on sustainability and accessibility.

Aena’s engineering team has planned a complex, 57-stage construction process to ensure the airport remains operational throughout the work. The plan involves gradually replacing old structures to gain 28% more space. The first phase will focus on reconfiguring parking and preparing for a future southern railway connection, followed by the construction of a new terminal, a process expected to take 70 months.

Aena emphasized that the goal of this investment is to improve service quality rather than simply increasing passenger capacity. This modernization comes at a time when the airport is managing logistical challenges, including recent congestion caused by new fees for bus operators. Aena has temporarily suspended those fees until the end of the year and added more staff to access points to keep operations running smoothly while preparing for the decade-long transformation ahead.