First of all, two things must be said: one, comparing the cost of parking at Gran Canaria Airport (to finance loss-making flights from Valladolid, for example) with that of Madrid or Barcelona is biased because Gran Canaria is an island and its users don't come from other parts of Spain by car; that's why the comparison is with island sun-and-beach destinations, not Malaga or Nice. Two, the land at Gran Canaria Airport is owned by the Gran Canaria Island Council, as it was ceded to the Franco regime and not given free of charge to the Ministry of the Air Force, as it was then called. Another issue is whether the people of Gran Canaria have leaders to demand its return, as the visionary Royal Economic Society of Friends of the Country has requested.
Gran Canaria Airport (LPA) is among the island airports in the European Union with the highest parking rates. In the General Parking P1, prices reach 13 euros for 24 hours for the first four days and 11 euros per day from the fifth day onwards. The long-stay P2 costs approximately 54 euros for 7 days with advance booking and up to 85 euros for 7 days without booking. Unlike other European airports, AENA does not publish hourly or fractional hourly rates on its website; users must enter dates into the booking engine to know the exact amount per minute or segment, which limits transparency.
In comparison, Greek airports offer much more competitive rates. In Santorini and Mykonos, public parking in front of the terminal is free for short stays, while in Heraklion (Crete) there are large public areas free of charge. At Rhodes, the first 20 minutes are free, the first hour costs €3, 1–2 hours €4, 2–3 hours €5, 3–4 hours €6, and a full day €7. For longer stays, Rhodes offers rates from €8 for 24 hours up to 7 days, with progressive daily increases for full weeks.
At Malta International, official fares are tiered: the first hour costs €3,50, the second hour €4,50, 3 to 5 hours €7, 5 to 12 hours €12, and 12 to 24 hours €18. Cyprus airports (Larnaca and Paphos) charge free parking for 0–20 minutes, 21–60 minutes €2,50, 1–2 hours €4, 2–3 hours €5,50, 3–4 hours €6,50, 4–5 hours €7,50, and full day parking for €8–10, depending on the parking zone.
In Italy, Olbia Costa Smeralda (Sardinia) and Cagliari Elmas airports charge €2 for the first hour, €4 for the second, €6 for the third, and from the fourth hour onward, an additional €0,50 per hour is charged, up to a daily maximum of €15–18, depending on the parking. For multi-day stays, Olbia charges approximately €45 for three days, while Cagliari charges €3 for three days. Furthermore, the island factor amplifies the economic impact: residents cannot opt for alternative parking outside the airport or travel from other islands or nearby cities, as is the case in Valencia or Barcelona.
Gran Canaria offers official parking rates that are clearly higher for long-stay parking, with a lack of transparency in hourly prices, while other EU island airports combine clarity and economy, benefiting both tourists and residents. This situation places LPA in an open debate about the competitiveness and fairness of its services compared to other European sun-and-beach destinations. While the Greek islands lead in accessibility and transparency, and Malta and Cyprus offer moderate prices with clear rules, Gran Canaria appears among the most expensive and opaque airports in Europe when it comes to official parking. In a destination that thrives on tourism, and where residents' mobility depends largely on private vehicles, this situation opens an urgent debate about the need for greater fairness, clarity, and competitiveness in a service as basic as leaving their car at the airport. Aena's opacity in Gran Canaria has always served it well in ensuring that islanders do not complain about the drain on funds that flow from this facility.
