Naviera Armas is considering developing a high-speed shipping line between Arguineguín (Mogán) and Los Cristianos (Arona), with the goal of establishing a direct connection between the archipelago's two main tourist hubs. According to financial sources consulted by Maspalomas24H, the route is conceived as a strategic alternative to the structural bottlenecks posed by the ports of Agaete and Las Palmas for inter-island mobility for tourism and freight transport.
The idea of this line is not new, and Trasmediterránea considered it in 1994, "back then, Mogán is not what it is today, and southern Tenerife was not the largest sun and beach destination in the EU." If it were to be configured solely for cargo, although Granadilla and Mogán are attractive ports, the current combination of infrastructure, proximity, tourist demand, and logistics makes Los Cristianos-Arguineguín the most viable and profitable option for establishing a direct south-south high-speed maritime line between Tenerife and Gran Canaria, according to Armas. Initial data point to a volume of more than €15,5 million annually in direct revenue from tickets alone, representing a strong economic base for the shipping company and auxiliary companies (onboard catering, logistics, travel agencies), a multiplier effect for the tourism and services sectors in both hubs, helping local companies capture greater demand and create higher-value tourist packages. "The route could become a key economic driver for inter-island mobility, boosting business and employment on both islands," said financial sources, who emphasized that a large portion of the clientele would not be able to use the resident discount given the tourist influence of the areas.
With more than 10 million tourists annually between Gran Canaria (4 million international + 550.000 domestic) and Tenerife (6,2 million), the south-south corridor represents a larger potential market than the Madrid metropolitan area. An interconnected economic space that, however, lacks a direct maritime route, which hinders the smooth movement of professionals, goods, and visitors between the two islands. "We're talking about the possibility of generating real economies of scale in one of the most important tourist areas in Europe. A tourist staying in Playa del Inglés or Costa Adeje should be able to move between islands as if changing municipalities. Today, that's not possible," explains Naviera Armas.
The initiative is not limited to passenger transport. It is also proposed as a solution for the thousands of workers in the tourism and service sectors who need to travel between islands without wasting an entire day on inefficient journeys. This new mobility would open up opportunities for training, employment, and business cooperation between the two regions. Another key to the project lies in its logistical potential. The south of Tenerife and Mogán has increased its agricultural exports—tropical fruits—in recent years, which require shipping to the Port of Las Palmas, currently via complex road and ferry routes via Agaete or Las Palmas. A line between Los Cristianos and Arguineguín would consolidate a south-south maritime logistics corridor, with a direct impact on the competitiveness of the primary sector in Tenerife and Gran Canaria, while reducing transportation times, costs, and emissions.
To realize this route, it will be necessary to adapt the port of Arguineguín—currently without Ro-Ro infrastructure—and to secure institutional support at the local, island, and regional levels. Naviera Armas assures that there is real interest in leading the investment, provided the appropriate administrative, regulatory, and operational conditions are met. “If the Canary Islands want to move toward a more integrated, more competitive, and more resilient economy, connectivity cannot depend solely on airports and two saturated ports. The south of Gran Canaria also has extraordinary potential,” affirm financial sources at the Gran Canaria-based company. The shipping company has already commissioned a technical and demand study and could submit a formal proposal to the Canary Islands government and local councils “in the coming weeks.”
