The island's institutional president, Sergio Rodríguez, has described the situation as a “direct threat” to La Palma's stability. Concern is heightened following efforts to restore connectivity and attract new international routes, making a potential airspace blockade an “unacceptable setback” for the island.
This is a measure that the president describes as a direct threat to La Palma's stability.
Rodríguez has directly pointed to the privatized management model as the root cause of the precariousness that has already led to reduced operating hours at airports such as El Hierro. He considers it “unacceptable” that the island's connectivity depends on management that has failed to meet basic staffing needs, insisting that air traffic control should not hinder La Palma's development.
The island institution emphasizes that mobility is a fundamental right for residents and a strategic pillar for the tourism sector, which is currently experiencing growth that cannot be jeopardized by labor disputes or a lack of foresight in controller staffing.
Given the approaching strike day, the Cabildo de La Palma has issued an urgent call to AENA to intervene immediately. The goal is to resolve the controller deficit at La Palma tower and ensure full operability, thereby guaranteeing the right to mobility and preventing citizens and tourism businesses from bearing the consequences of a management model that prioritizes profitability over essential service.
“"La Palma is at a crucial moment. We will not allow the lack of personnel or deficient management in state infrastructures to hinder our future. AENA must act now to reverse this precarious situation."
