Until recently, the relationship between the Government of the Canary Islands and the State was marked by open conflict. The dispute arose from an agreement between Moncloa and the Basque Government, which allowed Euskadi to participate in the management of its airports. This concession, which the State had denied for decades, raised alarms in the Canary Islands, leading Clavijo to demand equivalent treatment, invoking Article 161 of the Statute of Autonomy.
Initially, Madrid's response was a firm rejection. The Sánchez Government argued that the legal framework only allowed for limited, consultative participation. This position was vehemently defended by the Canarian PSOE, whose secretary general stated that the Canary Islands could have a voice, but never a vote, in Aena's decisions. Tensions escalated, with cross-statements and reproaches, reaching a critical point when Clavijo called for the dismissal of Aena's president, Maurici Lucena, accusing him of prioritizing private interests over those of the Islands.
What could not be done, the management of the Canary Islands airports between the State and regional administrations, could perhaps, maybe, needs to be studied, be done now.
However, a recent meeting in Tenerife between representatives of both governments has changed the landscape. Although no concrete agreements were reached, a clear de-escalation of tension was staged. The State agreed to open formal negotiations on airport co-management, removing red lines and explicit vetoes. Discussions included document exchange and joint technical work to explore formulas allowing greater participation of the Canary Islands in the management of its airports. This shift implies a de facto recognition by the State that the negotiation margin previously denied, in fact, exists.
This change in criteria puts those who, until recently, staunchly defended the impossibility of such negotiations in an awkward position. Politics, and particularly the 'sanchismo' way of doing politics, is characterized by rectifications and changes in position. What happened demonstrates that initial defenses were more a political slogan than a legal truth. The Basque precedent had already anticipated that it was possible to find a specific fit and develop the necessary legal creativity, something that had initially been denied in the Canary Islands.
The opening of these negotiations is positive news, as it brings the debate back to the technical realm and opens an opportunity that did not exist before. For the Canary Islands, air connectivity is not a luxury, but an essential condition for its territorial cohesion, its tourism industry, and its social and economic development. The ability to influence these decisions is crucial for the archipelago.
