NEWS FROM TENERIFE #11

News from Tenerife #11

Every week, News from Tenerife #11 delivers a concise roundup of events and news from the past week on your favorite website. Each article in News from Tenerife #11 is a synthesis of facts, actions, and incidents too brief to merit a full article but nonetheless important.

Access Roads to Teide Remain Closed
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The Cabildo of Tenerife announced on Sunday that access roads to the Teide National Park remain closed due to adverse weather conditions. The road maintenance service has been working intensively to clear accumulated snow and remove fallen debris from affected routes. According to a press release from the island government, the weather forecast necessitated maintaining access restrictions.

The TF-21, which connects La Orotava to the National Park, is closed between kilometer 16 (Aguamansa) and kilometer 43 (the base station of the cable car). While the section from the south to the cable car has been cleared, hazardous conditions in other areas prevent full reopening.
The TF-24, which ascends from Las Lagunetas, also remains closed between kilometer 24 and 43 (the intersection with the TF-21 at El Portillo). Despite clearing this section, ice patches and the risk of falling debris have forced authorities to keep it closed.

The Cabildo has extended the closure of access roads to Teide. On Monday, December 23, further intervention was planned to continue clearing the roads and resolving issues caused by snow. Residents were advised to avoid unnecessary travel and follow official instructions.

Tickets for the Arrival of Los Reyes Now Available
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The municipality of Santa Cruz de Tenerife will begin selling tickets for the Three Kings’ welcome show later this week. Tickets are priced at two euros each, with a limit of six tickets per person. They can be purchased at the district offices and the Quico Cabrera sports hall until sold out.
New this year, payment can only be made via card (TPV); cash will not be accepted.

The Three Kings’ show is a highly anticipated event for thousands of parents who bring their children to the stadium. Each year, Santa Cruz becomes a city filled with magic and wonder on this special day.
District offices will sell tickets on Friday from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, as will the sports hall. A total of 18,000 tickets will be made available, a number determined by the safety plan for the event. As in previous years, proceeds from ticket sales will be donated to non-profit organizations supporting children.

The Weather Takes Strange Turns on Tenerife
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After a storm depression, a super-calima, and a DANA, Tenerife’s weather continues to act unpredictably. The forecast calls for clouds, denser in the north and inland areas until midday, with potential locally intense rain showers.

Snow is expected in the high mountains above 2,000 meters, though this depends on altitude and location. Meanwhile, a light calima hangs over coastal areas, and heavy showers could trigger landslides and mudflows.
Temperatures remain stable, with highs around 20°C in Tenerife and lows of 12°C in El Hierro. Winds from the northeast will be moderate along the coasts, with stronger gusts in elevated areas and peaks.

Airports Plan 25,212 Flights for Christmas
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Between December 20, 2024, and January 7, 2025, a total of 25,212 flights are scheduled at Canarian airports, marking a 20.42% increase compared to the same period in 2023–2024, which recorded 20,936 flights. This season also spans two extra days compared to last year.
The busiest day in 2024 was December 21, with 1,681 planned flights, while Christmas Day is expected to be the quietest, with 856 flights.

Gran Canaria leads with 7,695 planned flights, a 21.2% increase from last year. Tenerife South follows with 5,429 flights (+16.17%). Lanzarote’s César Manrique Airport ranks third with 3,840 flights (+17.1%). Tenerife North comes in fourth with 3,763 flights (+27.5%).
Fuerteventura records 2,912 flights (+24.8%), while La Palma schedules 1,155 flights (+14.9%). El Hierro and La Gomera follow with 266 (+21.4%) and 152 flights (+11.7%), respectively.

Other busy days include December 22 (1,506 flights), December 28 (1,612 flights), and January 4 (1,629 flights). Across Spain, Aena’s airport network expects 97,420 flights during the holiday season, a 17.7% increase from last year, with two extra operational days in 2024.

Six Arrested for Forgery at Tenerife South Airport
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The National Police arrested six individuals at Tenerife South Airport last month for document forgery. As one of Spain’s busiest airports, Tenerife South has seen increased traffic in recent years, ranking third after Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat.

The UK’s departure from the EU has significantly increased the workload at this border point. During peak months, especially in summer, the airport handles over 100 daily flights and more than 20,000 passengers passing through border control.
Increased surveillance led to six arrests involving individuals of various nationalities, mainly Albanians, but also from Iran and Nigeria. The suspects attempted to use forged documents and were detained pending deportation procedures.

The most recent arrest involved an Albanian national attempting to travel to the UK with a forged Italian passport.
Enhanced measures aim to improve security at Spain’s external borders while managing the growing influx of passengers efficiently.