Ryanair, through which Binter has acquired control of the routes it opened between the Canary Islands and the Peninsula, maintains its commitment to Gran Canaria with 34 active routes for the 2023/2024 winter season, consolidating its role as a key player in attracting tourists to the south of the island. Since its arrival in 2009, the airline has transported more than 15 million passengers at Gando Airport.
Ryanair currently connects Gran Canaria with domestic destinations such as Madrid, Malaga, Seville, Valencia, and Santiago de Compostela, and with European cities such as Berlin, Milan, Budapest, Krakow, London, Dublin, and Brussels, among others. Ryanair's domestic flights are now under the control of Binter.
Compared to 2019, when it operated 28 routes from the island, the company has increased its presence, strengthening air connectivity and contributing to the growth of tourism in southern Gran Canaria.
However, the relationship between Ryanair and AENA has been marked by disagreements regarding airport taxes. The airline has expressed concern about possible fare increases, arguing that they could affect the viability of some routes and, consequently, the arrival of tourists to the island.
Despite these tensions, Ryanair continues to be a key pillar in the strategy to attract European and mainland tourists to Gran Canaria, especially to its economic engine: the south. The island administration and tourism associations are closely monitoring the progress of the negotiations between Ryanair and AENA, aware that maintaining the routes is key to sustaining the destination's economic recovery and tourism leadership.
Gran Canaria, and Maspalomas in particular, is confident that the balance between business and public interests will allow for continued growth in connectivity and visitors in an increasingly competitive and demanding market.
