The recent death this January of a young man, just 20 years old, on the tarmac at Gran Canaria airport is not an isolated incident, but rather the tip of the iceberg of an occupational health crisis that the CCOO union describes as "intolerable." In a context where tourism is reaching record figures, the price of punctuality and airport slots is being paid with human lives.
The accident comes at a critical time for workplace safety statistics in the Canary Islands. According to data from the CCOO union in the Canary Islands, fatal and serious workplace accidents have risen alarmingly. Although the total number of accidents resulting in sick leave registered a slight decrease of 3% in the first half of 2025 (a total of 13.380 accidents), workplace fatalities increased by 83,3% towards the end of the year. In November 2025 alone, the year-to-date total had already reached 29 fatalities, 22 of whom died directly at their workplace.
The accident at Gando Airport has put the spotlight on the ground handling sector, a crucial component for the 7,8 million tourists who landed in the Canary Islands in the first half of 2025. Carmen Marrero, from the CCOO union, denounces that the pressure to meet flight schedules creates a dangerous "breeding ground." The lack of coordination among the multiple companies operating simultaneously on the tarmac and work rhythms that force workers to "run around" are degrading preventative measures to critical levels.
While the budget for employment promotion (Funcatra) is projected to increase by 24,06% by 2026, reaching €6 million, the reality on the ground is very different. Ground handling companies operate under the constant threat of penalties for delays, forcing them to rush their work to avoid losing priority for takeoff. This urgency, coupled with training that often amounts to little more than an informational brochure, has left temporary workers (like the deceased, who had only been with Groundforce for a few months) exposed to deadly risks.
"Does tourism thrive at the expense of workers' lives?" Carmen Marrero's previous statement resonates powerfully after last weekend's accident: "We work to live better, not to lose our lives in the process." With an accident rate in the service sector that, although proportionally lower due to the large number of employees, still accounts for the highest total (8.707 accidents in the first half of 2025), the Canary Islands faces a monumental challenge at the start of 2026.
If the success of the destination is measured solely by tourist volume and daily spending (which rose 8,9% in 2025), but ignores the safety of those who handle luggage and assist passengers on flights, the "Canary Islands" brand risks being remembered not for its beaches, but for the poor condition of its roads. Prevention, as the union demands, must cease to be a bureaucratic formality and become a genuine priority before the death toll continues to rise in 2026.
