The balance of the aviation fuel market in the archipelago reveals a structural gap in air traffic that complements the maritime hegemony of the eastern province. During 2024, aviation kerosene (Jet A-1) consumption in the Canary Islands reached 782.164 metric tons, representing a year-on-year increase of 0,39% compared to the 779.136 tons recorded in 2023. The provincial distribution of this figure reveals a clear concentration of demand: Las Palmas absorbed 461.477 tons—59% of the total regional volume—driven by the operational intensity of the airports of Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura, while Santa Cruz de Tenerife accounted for 320.687 tons.
The start of 2025 has consolidated the same market dynamics. During the first quarter of the year, commercial aviation demanded 200.368 tons of kerosene across the islands. The province of Las Palmas once again led the market, accounting for 117.846 tons (58,8% of total demand), compared to the 82.522 tons handled by the airports of Tenerife South, Tenerife North, and La Palma. The higher density of cross-border flights, the significant role of long-haul charter flights, and the function of Gran Canaria Airport as a connecting hub to sub-Saharan Africa explain the volume advantage maintained by the eastern province.
However, when the analysis of aviation kerosene is cross-referenced with metrics for land transport and island mobility, the Canary Islands' energy model reveals a stark dual specialization. While Las Palmas handles a greater gross tonnage both in the air and at sea—where the eastern province accounts for 1,47 million tons of fuel oil compared to Santa Cruz de Tenerife's 241.161 tons in 2025—the western province consolidates its dominance in the consumption of high-value-added light fuels.
In the land-based automotive market, Santa Cruz de Tenerife surpassed Las Palmas in total gasoline consumption in 2025, reaching 280.669 tons compared to 276.599. The determining factor for this advantage lies in 98-octane premium gasoline, a segment where Tenerife dominates with 59.648 tons compared to 43.569 tons in the eastern province (a 36,9% increase). This pattern has remained virtually unchanged in the first seven months of 2026, with Santa Cruz de Tenerife registering 31.568 tons of 98-octane gasoline compared to 23.483 tons in Las Palmas, reflecting a vehicle fleet with more demanding technical requirements and strong growth in high-end tourism.
