The president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Pedro Martín, yesterday demanded that AENA prepare a project with an “integral vision” for the Tenerife South Airport and that it end the enlargements “little by little”, because it seems that a puzzle is being “assembled” that does not respond to the needs of the Island.
Speaking to journalists, Martín said that the island must receive the investments that correspond to it “and not wait for someone else to do badly” – referring to the stoppage of the expansion of El Prat -, beyond the money that is invested. “In Barcelona, Madrid or Pernambuco”.
He has indicated that next week he will have a working meeting with representatives of AENA to guarantee that a project of great importance is undertaken and will serve for the next 20 or 25 years. “If we do not have a project for that airport as a whole, in the end it will not turn out well and we will continue to repeat what we put in pieces, pieces and pieces,” he added.
In this sense, he has put as an example of the lack of interest in this port facility that was built in the 70s and following a project that they took “running” from Seville because there was an accident in Los Rodeos. “Things cannot continue to be done that way,” he stressed.
In his opinion, AENA has to have Tenerife “on the agenda”, also in the case of Tenerife North Airport, to “make decisions” about the old buildings that are inside the facilities and must be renovated.
The Círculo de Empresarios y Profesionales del Sur de Tenerife (CEST) also demands that AENA include in its strategic investment program for the period 2022-2026 the construction of a new terminal, taking advantage of the budget that was to be allocated to the expansion of El Prat.
The president of CEST, Roberto Ucelay, demands that the Ministry of Transport intercede for the interests of Tenerife and do everything possible to modify the investment program included in the Airport Regulation Document 2022-2026, before the end of this year. Otherwise, he warns, “we will have to wait more than five years to carry out works that are essential for the development of tourist activity on the Island.”
Necessary rehabilitation
Along these lines, he explains that, at the moment, the only thing that is reflected in AENA’s investment plan is the budget for the drafting of the project, but not the tender for the tender for the execution of the works. “A rehabilitation of the Tenerife South Airport is absolutely necessary, one of the most important in Spain, the seventh in number of passengers, and one of the most profitable. However, its facilities are not at the level of a tourist destination as important as Tenerife and it has several deficiencies ”, he assures.
According to Ucelay, the Tenerife South Airport “is an economic engine for the western islands, but it could also become an opportunity for the diversification of the local economy in southern Tenerife.” Under this premise, he considers that a land lease tender to create a repair hangar could generate a very important economic activity and, in turn, new for the area.
The Circle shows its support for the demands of Ashotel and the Friends of South Tenerife Forum and asks the rest of the economic and social agents, as well as the public administrations of the Canary Islands, to join this request and work together to achieve that the new South Airport terminal be a reality in the next five years.
