On the evening of January 2, 2025, a business jet blocked the only runway at Tenerife South Airport, causing a service interruption of over an hour. The incident occurred during one of the busiest travel periods of the year and caused numerous flight diversions and significant delays.
Over 20 flights were diverted to nearby airports, including Tenerife North, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura. Tenerife North in particular quickly reached its capacity limits, making it difficult to handle the additional flight movements. The blockade led to a backlog in regional air traffic, which put a strain on both passengers and airlines.
The local business group CEST sharply criticized the airport operator AENA. It called for immediate measures to improve the infrastructure and capacities at Tenerife South Airport in order to be able to better manage future bottlenecks and disruptions. Operations resumed at around 19:30 p.m., but the effects were felt well into the night.
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