Current Inter Island Flights

[Captain Sensible]

The route bewteen Tenerife and Fuerteventura that has been in operation since March 18 is now being cancelled. It had been opearating at 18% capacity.

During the same period the route between Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria has been operating at 20% capacity. It is being mainly used by people attending the hospital in Las Palmas. To make it easier for passengers there will be two flights a day so people can return on the same day.

https://www.rtvaguacabra.com/noticias/fu...iario.html

[Captain Sensible]

The Gobierno de Canarias have authorised more flights between the islands now that we are in Phase 1 - https://www.ondafuerteventura.es/fuertev...nN1_CQm71Q

A translation:
Given the growth in the number of passengers who needed to move between islands for the essential reasons set out in RD 463/2020 (health, medical, etc.) the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Housing of the Canary Islands Government, led by Sebastián Franquis, has agreed with the airline Binter to expand the offer of daily flights to improve air connections between islands once the Archipelago has entered Phase 1 of the de-escalation. In this way, of the 20 round-trip flights currently operating on the inter-island routes, it will go from tomorrow, Wednesday May 13, to the 32 daily routes.

With the aim of continuing to strengthen the service between the islands and due to the increase in the number of flights that were complete to move for essential reasons, after the latest modifications published in the BOE by the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, through Order TMA / 400/2020 of May 9, the Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Housing and the airline Binter have worked together to progressively and in accordance with the de-escalation process, expand the flight schedule starting tomorrow. As a result of this coordinated work, a first extension of routes has been agreed and thus a total of twelve daily flights have been added to the current 20. These new airline seats are already available in the company's usual marketing channels.

The commitment of both the Canary Islands Government and the Canary Islands airline is to continue responding to the needs of the Canaries in this new phase, gradually returning to island connectivity as the health framework and the evolution of the market demand it. For this reason, together with the additional frequencies that are incorporated into the current routes considered essential, the direct connection between the airports of Lanzarote and Tenerife North is recovered, which will have two flights (one way and one return) per day.

In addition, four additional daily round-trip flights are incorporated on the route between Gran Canaria and Lanzarote and two on the routes of Gran Canaria-Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria-Tenerife North and Tenerife North-La Palma.

All flights will continue to operate under the same current conditions, set by current regulations: limitation of 50% of the seats offered and only for passengers who justify flight reasons set forth in the law (health reasons, medical reasons, travel to the place of work, return to the place of habitual residence, etc.)

«As we enter Phase 1 of the de-escalation, it is clear that throughout the Canary Islands more economic activity is being noticed than there was a few weeks ago, so it is essential to offer adequate air connectivity between islands that guarantees the travel of those professionals whose jobs they are recovering the activity of the moment before the crisis, "said the councilor Franquis," also from the Government we want to thank the work of Binter for taking on this increase in flights now and for having been operating during the entire health crisis, in a few moments very difficult financially speaking.

For his part, for the General Coordinator of Binter, Juan Ramsden, he stated: “It is a satisfaction to continue supporting, together with the Canary Islands Government's Department of Transport, our land and our people at this time of de-escalation, increasing to our account and risk the number of flights aimed at covering essential needs, even knowing that they are highly burdensome for the company »

 In-flight health security
Since the start of the health crisis generated by COVID-19, flights between islands have been reinforced through new protocols and procedures to guarantee the safety of passengers and company personnel, rigorously complying with all the guidelines set by the authorities and by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), as is the obligation to travel with a mask that covers the nose and mouth.

Some of the measures to highlight to continue increasing health security on board inter-island flights have been the allocation of seats, the implementation of a staggered boarding process, the distribution of hydro-alcoholic wipes to all customers, the elimination of on-board service . In addition, cleaning systems have been reinforced, adding to the cleanings between stopovers and the disinfection at the end of daily operations, new deep disinfections to ensure exhaustive cleaning of the fleet and door openings between stopovers to achieve extra air renewal instantly .

Finally, the Canary Island airline has also provided its crews with the necessary skills, capacities and equipment to guarantee the safety of all passengers and their proper care.

[windermeregolfer]

We had our early morning call with the 7.30am arrival from Gran Canaria this morning, the first time in weeks 

[Sam]

We had our early morning call with the 7.30am arrival from Gran Canaria this morning, the first time in weeks 

Used to wake me up, good ol' days. Missing the island too much already.

[Captain Sensible]

the Fuerteventura - Tenerife North route resumes from the 1st June.

[Sam]

On July 1, 100 daily flights between the islands will be activated

The Ministry of Public Works, Transport and Housing of the Government of the Canary Islands, led by Sebastián Franquis, and the Canarian airline Binter, have agreed to launch the progressive recovery of air connectivity prior to the health crisis caused by COVID-19 and by That the company plans to expand to 100 in the next 20 days the flights between islands. Binter, in coordination with the Government of the Canary Islands, has programmed two new increases in its flight scheduling with the aim of continuing to re-establish air connectivity, recover air routes with all the Islands and boost passenger demand once the restrictions on travel within the Canary Islands.

The airline, the main provider of this transport service in the Archipelago, thus intends, together with the Regional Executive, to promote the socioeconomic recovery of the islands by promoting inter-island mobility and, therefore, tourism at a time when the sector needs all possible support.

The first increase in connections, after 22, new frequencies that begin to operate as of today, will take place on Monday, June 15 with the incorporation of two new aircraft into operation, which will add up to a total of 8 aircraft. In this way, Binter will offer 84 daily flights in the Canary Islands compared to the 62 that it has begun to fly today June 10, recovering, once again, interrupted connections such as the one that connects La Gomera with the Tenerife North airport and the direct one between Gran Canaria and Tenerife South.

Additionally, starting Wednesday, July 1, another 2 new aircraft will be added to the fleet that operates between the islands, reaching a total of 10 ATRs that will allow the airline to operate 100 daily flights only in the Canary Islands, reinforcing itself significant connectivity between all islands. From that date, the airports of Gran Canaria and Tenerife North will have an average of 20 daily connections and four with Tenerife South. Between Gran Canaria and Lanzarote an average of 16 daily flights will be operated, 15 with Fuerteventura and four with La Palma. Between Tenerife North Airport and La Palma Airport, there will be an average of 16 daily flights, eight with Lanzarote, six with Fuerteventura, four with La Gomera and four with El Hierro.

This expansion is possible after the BOE today publishes a resolution of the General Directorate of Aviation, at the request of the Canary Islands Government, to nullify the 70% reduction imposed on inter-island flights in March to reduce the spread of contagion on the islands due to the pandemic.

"The entire archipelago is already progressing in a coordinated way towards the new normality and that is why it is essential to recover the benefits and services that were affected during the health crisis by restrictions on mobility such as air connections between islands," explained counsellor Franquis. , “I want to thank Binter for the collaboration it has always shown during this period, in the first few weeks to limit connectivity to the basics, and right now for progressively increasing those connections and offering the citizens of the islands more facilities to move for work, health or to promote domestic tourism that will be essential in the economic revival of the sector. "

For his part, the General Coordinator of Binter, Juan Ramsden, has stated that "this significant increase in routes that we are undertaking in such a short time is a clear reflection of the company's real commitment to make it easier for the inhabitants of the Canary Islands to fly again with breadth of connections and maximum guarantees of sanitary security ”.

Fly safely

Since the start of the health crisis, Binter has implemented new protocols and procedures to guarantee the safety of passengers and company personnel, strictly complying with all the guidelines set by the authorities and by the European and Spanish Aviation Safety agencies. (EASA and AESA), as is the obligation to travel with a mask that covers the nose and mouth.

Some of the measures to be highlighted to continue increasing health safety on board are carrying out a step-by-step boarding and disembarking process, the distribution of hydro-alcoholic wipes to all customers or the elimination of on-board service to reduce material handling. In addition, cleaning systems have been reinforced, adding new deep disinfections to those carried out between stopovers and disinfection after the end of daily operations to ensure thorough sanitation of the fleet.

Cabin air quality is guaranteed on all aircraft. In the case of ATRs, which fly at a lower level, the non-recirculating air conditioning system ensures that there is adequate circulation and constant air renewal through the intake of outside air.

The company has also implemented the measures proposed by the Group of Scientific Experts that advises the Government of the Canary Islands on issues related to COVID-19, such as the reservation of separate seats for people who are part of risk groups for the Coronavirus and has been equipped the crews with the necessary skills, capacities and equipment to guarantee the safety of all passengers and their proper care.

Courtesy of Onda Fuerteventura.

[TamaraEnLaPlaya]

Thanks Sam.
It's kind of strange though that Binter sent me an email yesterday cancelling the flights I had booked to go to Tenerife North in late July. Still undecided about whether I want to go anyway, waiting to see what happens infection wise as lockdown eases/more flights resume.
Binter are offering me free change of flights, to anytime in next 12 months AND a complementary flight, or a refund. I can action the change at any point in the next 12 months so I also get the opportunity to hold back on my decision. Couldn't ask for better options, just surprised they cancelled my booking.

[Sam]

Is it possible that your flight didn't make the cut to be one of the 100? Nowadays is standard for most of airlines to offer better conditions to make sure the customer won't ask for Money back, just to keep the company afloat, it's really hard to say no.

To help (or not) with your decision, the direct flight to Madeira seams to be the real deal if included. Especially for residents. 🛫🏝️