The Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Housing of the Government of the Canary Islands, headed by Sebastián Franquis, contacted the managers of the airline Vueling this Sunday to demand "that it comply with the hundreds of Canarians who are being affected by the massive flight cancellations that the company is suffering due to the health crisis caused by the Covid-19 coronavirus, and that prevents these residents from returning to the islands."
The regional Executive claims to have received "numerous complaints" from "many Canarians who want to return to the islands" and who "cannot do so due to Vueling's cancellations", and has demanded that the airline "as soon as possible, relocate these resident passengers in the Canary Islands who are in different airports of the Peninsula, to guarantee their arrival to the Archipelago as soon as possible."
The Minister Sebastián Franquis, who states that he is following the evolution of this situation at all times, has expressed his concern about the "inconvenience and damages" that these residents in the islands are suffering and has given the appropriate instructions so that the Ministry and Vueling articulate a solution "as efficient and brief as possible."
More than 20 flights canceled during the weekend
Specifically, according to the regional Executive, Vueling canceled between Saturday and Sunday 24 flights that it had planned to operate between the Canary Islands and the Peninsula, which has caused "hundreds of residents in the islands to have been left without the possibility of returning to their homes."
In this regard, it is indicated that the worst day was this Sunday, with up to 15 cancellations that affected, above all, the airports of Gran Canaria, Tenerife North and Lanzarote, where flights were scheduled to arrive from destinations such as Bilbao, Barcelona, Málaga or Asturias. "The cancellations are being repeated on all routes of this airline, which has already announced the presentation of a Temporary Employment Regulation File (ERTE) due to the limitations on mobility imposed by the coronavirus crisis that affects both Spain and much of the rest of the world," adds the Ministry of Transport.
In view of the "damages" that these cancellations are causing to Canarian passengers, the regional Government demands that Vueling managers offer them "all possible facilities until they are relocated on other flights." Likewise, it is required that Vueling take charge "of all those necessary expenses that guarantee that the wait of these travelers until their return to the Canary Islands is done with all the essential comforts, whether by paying for accommodation and maintenance for the hours, or days, that they must wait to be able to return to their homes in the islands."