The president of the Airline Association (ALA), Javier Gándara, has warned again this Friday about the possibility that some companies will reduce routes and/or frequencies if the Government continues to delay payments for compensation for residents in Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, Ceuta and Melilla.
In a press conference, Gándara denounced the low budget allocation for these compensations, which at the end of the year will add up to a deficit of 775 million euros, the difference between what remains to be collected from 2024 (175 million) plus what will accrue in 2025 (1,250 million) and the 560 million included in the General State Budgets (PGE) for this year.
This is not a management or administrative problem, but rather a lack of budget allocation by the Treasury, said Javier Gándara, who stressed that if this contribution is not increased, some companies will have no choice but to reduce frequencies or routes.
ALA explains that at the end of January the debt stands at 175 million, once 385 million were paid in that month, although they accumulate to the 1,250 million of this year.
At the close of 2024, the companies had 810 million pending collection, but at the close of March the remaining figure is 175 million.
Meanwhile, airlines have increased their offer from before covid with the islands by 13% in the case of the Balearic Islands (55 million seats in 2024) and by 18% with the Canary Islands (62 million seats).
"There has never been such good connectivity with the islands", which could be "endangered by these defaults".