What changes for travellers at the airport?

Aena, the Spanish airport operator, has reorganised the arrivals area at Gran Canaria Airport. The taxi rank is no longer near the terminal exit, where it used to be.

Passengers now take a longer route and cross three traffic lanes. The reports did not give a date for the move.

The exact new location is not published either, neither the level nor the distance in metres. If you land with luggage or children, allow extra time to reach a taxi.

There is no official route description for passengers. Follow the signs in the arrivals area.

The Global bus routes at the airport, for example 5, 36, 60, 66, 90 and 91, leave from level 1 according to a search extract. Whether that has changed is not confirmed, so check the stop on the spot.

Bus or taxi: who is complaining about what?

The report’s headline talks about the bus stop (parada de guaguas, a stop for regular buses). The full text, however, describes the taxi rank.

Whether “the sector” means the taxi, bus or travel industry is unconfirmed.

Rafael Santana, president of the Telde taxi cooperative, calls the handling slower and dangerous. Long queues, he says, block pedestrian crossings and part of the carriageway.

Taxi drivers must cross three lanes to get out, Santana says, which creates collision risks. The cooperative wants a safe area for travellers and quicker boarding.

On 31 October 2026, according to the reports, a bus backed into a tourist. That day the cooperative’s management had to manage the queues itself, because the responsible firm had not coordinated enough.

What does Aena say about the reorganisation?

Aena says it agreed the reorganisation with those involved. It is meant to improve traffic flow and vehicle checks, and the rank will stay at the new spot.

Aena runs the airport and sets the access and parking rules for vehicles. The Canary Islands government, the Cabildos (island governments) and the industry can only object or negotiate.

In July 2026 the Canary Islands government said it had received no institutional information from Aena on the new access system for buses. It learned of the system and of incidents through the transport industry.

An Aena statement on the opening on 17 November 2014 describes one central stop for all public bus services. Whether the current reorganisation is linked to it is unconfirmed.

According to a report of 15 September 2026, the airport is also preparing a new check for pre-booked taxis. It plans a barrier and a sticker for authorised vehicles, but the start and the procedure are not confirmed.

What lies behind the dispute over buses at the airport?

In December 2025 Aena announced parking charges for buses at the Canary Islands airports. Payment would start after a 60-minute window for loading and unloading, at up to 3.40 euros an hour in Gran Canaria.

Aena wanted to reorganise limited space because the number of vehicles is growing. The Cabildo de Gran Canaria rejected the charge, as did the PP party, travel agencies and tour operators.

The transport operators’ association (FET) put the cost at around 80,000 euros per operator a year. Secretary general José Ángel Hernández warned of delays of “at least an hour”, because buses from Playa del Inglés or Las Palmas would have to drive far back.

On 16 July 2026 the Canary Islands government called on Aena to stop the new access system. It cited unjustified delays from document checks on international passengers, effects on regular services, working conditions, the reputation of tourism and more private cars on the roads.

What applies until the end of the year and what comes in 2027?

On 21 July 2026 Aena, the Canary Islands government, the seven Cabildos and industry representatives met at Tenerife Sur Airport. Since then guaguas have entered the parking areas without a waiting charge until 31 December 2026.

The charge was suspended after three weeks in operation. The barriers stay in use only to collect data.

A monitoring committee meets in October, November and December 2026. Its members are Aena, the Canary Islands transport directorate, the seven Cabildos and industry representatives, but exact dates are missing.

The charge is due to become permanent in 2027. The industry association has said it will not pay then, and Aena wants to improve the external waiting area with shade and toilets for drivers.

Gran Canaria Airport handled 15,826,553 passengers in 2025, according to Aena, 4% more than in 2024. Flight movements rose to 142,884, an increase of 1.7%.