Pablo Rodríguez: "AENA has no say" in the debate on the joint management of airports

The Minister of Public Works, Housing and Mobility of the Government of the Canary Islands, Pablo Rodríguez, stated this Wednesday that "AENA has no say" in the Autonomous Community's demand to participate in the management of the islands' airports, because "it is only the operator" of the facilities and, therefore, "will have to abide" by what is appropriate within the legislative framework.

In response in the plenary session of Parliament to the PP deputy David Morales, the minister stressed that the Statute of Autonomy establishes that the Autonomous Community is responsible for the co-management of airports of general interest and for participating in strategy, planning, and fee policy.

"We have been demanding this throughout this legislature, in all forums, but to date we have not had a satisfactory response," lamented Rodríguez.

The PP deputy David Morales claimed "a seat" on the AENA board of directors, but the minister clarified that this is not what the Government of the Canary Islands is demanding, but rather participation based on what the Statute of Autonomy establishes.

Therefore, "AENA has no say in this discussion, it is the operator and must abide by the Spanish and Canarian legislative framework," he stressed.

Regarding the announcement by the Government of Spain that the Canary Islands are competent in airports and ports that are not of general interest, he pointed out that this was already included in the previous Statute of Autonomy and is already being exercised.

"We have been negotiating with AESA for over a year on a collaboration agreement for the management of airports that are not of general interest, and we have been managing Canarian ports for more than two decades," he recalled.

The PP deputy David Morales defended that "the Canary Islands deserve a seat" on the AENA board of directors and agreed in claiming that the Statute of Autonomy "makes it clear" that the Autonomous Community must be involved in the operation of airports of general interest managed by the State.