Canary Airlines has announced an indefinite strike starting Monday, February 27, to protest the regional government’s response to regulation on tachograph use in the Canary Islands, as reported by Fenadismer today.
The National Federation of Transport Associations of Spain stated that after large demonstrations by shipping carriers last November, it agreed to reopen talks with the regional authorities, though it warned that the discussions are fragile. This organization represents small and medium-sized road transport companies and is pressing the Canarian Government to grant greater flexibility in tachograph rules for the islands to reflect their geographic isolation. The federation notes that the strike could disrupt port operations across all the islands in the week ahead.
Fenadismer recalled that tachograph requirements have applied in the Canary and Balearic Islands since 2010, following a Royal Decree issued by the central government late in 2009 after negotiations with autonomous regions. The decree extended a prior arrangement that mandated tachograph use only on the larger islands. That framework was retained when a new Royal Decree was enacted last year to align road transport rules with the European Regulation on driving times and rest, which the European Union approved in the summer of that year.
Under European guidelines, some island shipping operations with areas under 2,300 square kilometers may be exempt from tachograph usage. This exemption would exclude only Mallorca among the major Spanish islands, but neither the Canary Islands nor the Balearic Islands have formally requested regional exemptions under the provision.
The association argues that mandating tachographs across island transport could create bureaucratic burdens and lead to unnecessary costs that lack justification given the limited distances and driving times typical of island routes. It also notes that the current regulations are supposed to address safety and compliance, yet there is no clear evidence that tachographs on island routes have reduced accidents or violations. Instead, they say, the system primarily generates data collection and sanctions when breaches occur, with limited demonstrable safety benefits.
Industry observers say the tension highlights the broader challenge of applying mainland-style transport rules to island geographies. The outcome of the negotiations will likely shape how tachograph requirements are enforced on archipelagos in Spain and could influence related policy discussions at both regional and national levels.
As the situation develops, transportation operators on the Canary Islands intend to monitor the impact of the strike on port activity and to reassess operational plans in light of potential delays and service disruptions. The central question remains whether a tailored regulatory approach, balancing safety with the practical realities of island logistics, can be achieved without imposing disproportionate costs on island carriers.