Canary Islands retain their appeal in the UK market despite lower summer flight capacity

The Canary Islands continue to attract visitors from the UK despite a decline in scheduled flights for summer 2027. The UK market remains strong and one of the main pillars of the islands’ tourism industry, but rising aviation operating costs and uncertainty over fuel prices are shaping connectivity forecasts for next year. This was one of the main findings of an analysis of the UK market presented at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London.

The data show that demand, which has moderated as families’ purchasing power has fallen, is not the destination’s main concern. The UK continues to show a strong appetite for travel and remains the Canary Islands’ leading international source market, accounting for 36% of all tourists. Between January and September 2026, the islands welcomed 4.7 million visitors from the UK, 1.3% more than in the same period a year earlier. The figures confirm the resilience of this visitor market despite economic moderation and consumers’ growing sensitivity to price.

The main uncertainty lies in air capacity and airlines’ commercial decisions. Higher fuel and other operating costs are prompting carriers to review their schedules, cut some routes and concentrate capacity on connections that offer better efficiency and profitability. Families’ economic circumstances are also forcing them to book trips at short notice, creating uncertainty that is leading airlines to reduce the number of seats they offer.

“This business strategy explains much of the connectivity adjustment we are seeing, which does not necessarily reflect waning interest in the archipelago among travellers. Airlines are taking a cautious approach amid changing costs and international uncertainty, so their schedules remain subject to change,” said Jessica de León, the Canary Islands Government’s Minister for Tourism and Employment.

A particularly challenging summer in 2027

Preliminary forecasts for air capacity in the 2027 summer season, covering April to October, put overall flight capacity to the Canary Islands below 2026 levels, down 3.5%.

However, the overall picture masks significant differences between markets. Scheduled capacity from the UK is expected to fall by 7.7%, equivalent to 332,390 fewer seats than in the same period a year earlier. Germany is also forecast to see a 7.4% decline, or 99,121 fewer seats.

“These figures reflect the schedules available at present and should be treated with caution, as planning for the season is not yet complete and airlines may still revise their operations in response to market developments and, in particular, energy costs,” De León said. She added that “summer 2027 is shaping up to be a particularly challenging period for the tourism sector”.

One of the challenges, José Juan Lorenzo, Managing Director of Turismo de Islas Canarias, explained, will be “the potential intensification of competition from destinations with lower cost structures, particularly those outside the European Union, which may be able to offer prices that are difficult to match”.

The Canary Islands delegation discussed these challenges facing the tourism sector at meetings with leading international operators at the WTM, including TUI, Jet2 and ABTA, the Association of British Travel Agents.

The Regnext Alliance Commission also met at the World Travel Market. De León outlined progress on the programme, which aims to channel some of the value generated by tourism into environmental and social recovery projects across the archipelago.

The minister was joined by Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, Director General for Tourism Planning, Training and Promotion, and José Juan Lorenzo, Managing Director of Turismo de Islas Canarias, who shared updates and outlined the next steps. Representatives of Carnival UK, easyJet, DERTOUR, Skyscanner, TUI, The Travel Foundation, Asolan, Lopesan, Loro Parque and the island councils attended the meeting.

“Regnext is entering a decisive phase as we finalise the tools needed to put the programme into practice, with clear rules, assessed projects and monitoring of results. The tourism sector’s collaboration will be vital to launching an innovative model that links tourism activity with the regeneration of the islands,” De León said.