The president of Gran Canaria, Antonio Morales, and the Minister of Tourism, Carlos Álamo, announced during the second day of the main fair of the sector in the United Kingdom the opening of a new route with Liverpool with the company Jet2 on an annual basis.
The Gran Canaria Tourism delegation, with the president, Antonio Morales, and the area advisor, Carlos Álamo, leading the delegation to the World Travel Market 2023, confirmed the good initial forecasts regarding the connectivity of the British market for the summer of 2024, with an initial increase of 6,93% compared to 2023. A year ago, the island destination had 430.295 seats reserved by airlines, with a seat occupancy rate of 85%, and they are now confirmed At least 460.125 seats for British customers during the next summer period.
Carlos Álamo and Antonio Morales confirmed the good feelings of the first day and the growing interest in the island destination given the "vital" need of the British client for a getaway of sun and good weather, in such a way that the 17 official meetings held in the The second day ended with several relevant developments, among which the opening of a new annual route with Liverpool and the increase in connectivity stands out, waiting to learn about Vueling's commitment.
Morales explained that “this second day of the fair confirms the good expectations that we observed yesterday, in such a way that the Gran Canaria destination is consolidated in the United Kingdom with an increase in connectivity for next summer, the high season for British customers. . The initial forecast implies a growth of 7%, which may increase in the coming months as the Tourism team closes new agreements. The important thing is that Gran Canaria will continue to be one of the main destinations for British tourists in 2024. In addition, we see how German and Nordic tourism recovers significantly, which will be a good year.
The president of Gran Canaria announced, together with counselor Carlos Álamo, a new route with Liverpool confirmed this Monday, the first day of the WTM with Jet2 that will begin operating in the summer. In addition, they positively valued the expanded possibilities with Nordic tourists with the opening of an Air Baltic base on the island, the first to be inaugurated outside its territory. “All this confirms the positive situation and expectations of the sector, which guarantees a growth trend for the year 2024,” said the island president.
The advisor responsible for the Tourism area of the Cabildo of Gran Canaria, Carlos Álamo, shared the same feelings and assured that they can improve even more in connectivity in the coming months, taking into account that the Vueling program for next summer remains to be known. “We are clearly in a growth process that is reflected in almost all markets, with high percentages of increase in seats and passengers, and also with the growing interest of agencies, airlines and tour operators. With Jet2, for example, we have a draft agreement to close with them a route with Liverpool, which is already guaranteed and the frequency and number of seats remains to be known, which would add a city of great importance and population volume .
Jet2 currently leads the volume of passengers in the United Kingdom with Gran Canaria consolidating its ten connections with the island this season and which will be eleven from the summer of 2024 when Liverpool is added. For winter and summer they have a market share of 36% and it has grown on the Island by 33,42% compared to 2019. The next airline in passenger volume in the United Kingdom during 2023 is Ryan Air with an ambitious schedule, the largest in history, with the island and whose program is presented with 34 routes in total, including the increase in frequencies on 15 routes to cities such as Berlin, Bristol, Budapest, Krakow and Milan. Tui Airways, EasyJet and Wizz Air UK remain relevant. The emergence of BA Euroflyer as a vacation subsidiary of British Airways stands out, so this combination will have 2.776 more seats to fly to Gran Canaria for a year-on-year variation of 55%.
The counselor highlighted as a common element in most of the meetings held in London, that “the element of sustainability has re-emerged as a differentiating principle and of great value for the client from the United Kingdom and a large part of tourists from the United Kingdom. world after the pandemic, so we want to work side by side with the private sector and the Government of the Canary Islands to develop a project in Gran Canaria so that the island becomes a provider of clean energy for air transport such as fuel SAF ((Sustainable Aviation Fuel) while we ask airline companies to continue on the path of researching and developing new technology that is cleaner to reduce the footprint generated by a plane trip that we cannot do without," he explained.
Furthermore, the counselor assured that "we continue working to maintain connections with Belfast and Glasgow with EasyJet, which are interesting and productive routes for Gran Canaria."
Finally, it should be noted that according to ISTAC data on tourist arrivals to Gran Canaria, the market diversification process has led to a 17,8% increase in clients with the United Kingdom in relation to the same months, from January to September. 2022. The increase in Germans, a market that is regaining health after the difficulties of the previous year, is 16,2%; the French market grows 21,9%; the Irish 42,7%; The Italian market has grown by 10% and the Nordics, another strategic market, have risen with an increase of 22% compared to 2022. The international market is growing by 17,3% as a whole, while the national or peninsular market is 1,6% lower. below, mainly affected by the increase in prices and high demand in the period following the reopening after the pandemic.
