The counselor of the Mixed Group of the Cabildo of Lanzarote and La Graciosa, Armando Santana, managed to pass a motion last Friday to demand explanations and urgent measures to guarantee the safety of the air traffic control service at César Manrique-Lanzarote airport.
The proposal had the support of all political groups in the Corporation, except for the PSOE, which voted against it. Santana defended the need to act in response to warnings about possible deficiencies in the service and the incident that occurred on September 29, 2026, when an Iberia Express aircraft entered the runway while a Ryanair plane was still landing, an event that AESA is investigating.
"The air safety of Lanzarote and La Graciosa cannot depend on uncertainty or lack of information. We have the obligation to demand explanations and guarantee that our airport has all the necessary means to operate safely," Santana stated during the defense of the initiative.
The motion pays special attention to the warnings from the Air Traffic Controllers' Union (USCA), which has pointed out that the Lanzarote tower would have 14 controllers compared to the 22 contemplated, according to the union, in the last tender.
Therefore, SAERCO is required to provide official information on the actual staff, personnel needs, shifts, coverage of absences, and measures to prevent fatigue.
Among the approved agreements, AESA is also urged to report on the investigation and evaluate urgent preventive measures; Aena to explain the safety and runway incursion prevention procedures; and all involved entities to evaluate possible human, technical, and organizational factors.
In addition, an institutional meeting is requested with AESA, Aena, SAERCO, and union representatives to address the situation and establish monitoring mechanisms.
"I do not want this motion to remain a institutional declaration. I want answers, documentation, and concrete commitments. Lanzarote cannot afford to have an issue of this importance left unresolved," concluded Armando Santana. The agreements will be forwarded to the competent administrations and entities, requesting information on the actions taken or planned within two months.
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