The Canary Islands have long hoped to become a pivotal hub for aerospace work, following a setback that dimmed expectations about the Spanish Space Agency locating governance here. The aim is to lay the foundations for a strategic plan the regional administration has pledged to the sector, building on more than a decade of requests to grow an activity still in its early stages but seen as offering a bright future thanks to the archipelago’s favorable conditions as a launch platform for drones, satellites, and other spacecraft.
Two reports were prepared for public authorities in 2009 and 2020. now, thirteen years later and two more since, the conclusions and recommendations sit in review as some feel they did not fully align with what the Agency expects. Yet the projects and potential of the Canary Islands persist, and the work remains in the hands of both the regional assemblies and the autonomous administration, keeping alive the dream of rightful growth.
One objective under consideration is the creation of a Canary Islands Airport Authority to manage airspace that is not classified as a national priority, starting with a lean structure and expanding through future initiatives and agreements. Within this plan, a body will be encouraged to bring together all researchers and experts in the regional aerospace sector.
Sectors and governments are aiming for differentiation and visibility, seeking to form the first intercontinental, oceanic, or inter-island flight connections. The goal also includes turning the Canary Islands into a hub for cooperation and information exchange with other Canarian and national initiatives and organizations. One related step will be from 2023 with the Spanish Space Agency based in Seville. For experts, the administrative headquarters of the new government agency will be in Seville, but research and work will take place across several autonomous communities, with a priority focus on the Canary Islands.
The most urgent and already funded initiative is the stratoport project in Fuerteventura. The first stone was laid in October at the Fuerteventura Technology Park, creating infrastructure to enable satellite launches to high altitudes above 20 kilometers. Equipped with high-definition technology, the facility will provide a global view of life on Earth, from biodiversity trends to population movement, emergency prevention, and other essential areas. In addition, a new UAV control center will help monitor drones and other advanced devices. Initial financing for the stratoport comes from the Autonomous Community, providing 8.4 million euros.
Another notable effort positioning the Canary Islands on the space launch map is the aim to become a development hub for the space industry, leveraging the region’s suitability for small satellite launch platforms. Expotrend Consulting was selected to perform economic and social analysis for the Canary Islands Ocean Platform Plocan, a consortium of central and regional governments, and CDTI, the national agency for technological research. This project assesses the broader impact on the local economy and society. [Expotrend Consulting, Plocan, CDTI attribution]
In parallel, both Enaire, the national air navigation service provider, and the Navy are collaborating on projects to support this new path of development and research. Enaire attended the first International Aeronautics and Space Congress on La Gomera, an island with notable potential for these launches. Enaire has led initiatives such as testing the integration of drones with other air traffic. In the Canary Islands alone, Enaire coordinated 1,185 of Spain’s total 9,200 drone operations through October, placing the archipelago second after Catalonia in the number of managed drone missions and ahead of Madrid, reflecting a strong regional footprint in unmanned flight operations.