Anyone travelling through Tenerife Sur Airport in the coming years will gradually see a completely renewed terminal take shape. On 30 July 2026, airport operator Aena officially put the main works for the major redevelopment out to tender. A total of €464 million has been allocated to the terminal building and the surrounding infrastructure. The expansion of the parking areas will cost an additional €48.4 million. Including baggage-handling equipment that will be ordered at a later stage, the total investment will exceed €550 million.
Fully operational during the works
The current airport consists of several buildings constructed during different periods. As a result, the complex does not currently form a single architectural whole. Aena wants to bring the existing terminals together under one overarching design, with more natural light, greenery, clearly organised walking routes and improved connections to public transport.
The works will be carried out in phases, allowing the airport to remain fully operational throughout the redevelopment. According to the current schedule, construction is expected to begin in autumn 2027 and continue for just over ten years.
An important part of the project is the renovation of Terminal 1. Part of the structure will be reinforced and completely refurbished, while other sections will be demolished and rebuilt. A new arrivals hall will be created, featuring a central passport-control area for passengers arriving from countries outside the Schengen Area.
The baggage reclaim hall will also be renovated. Terminal 2 and the connecting building will be extended to make room for a large shared check-in area and a more modern baggage-handling system.
Expansion of the parking facilities
A new departures area will also be created at the rear of the terminal. Six additional gates will be provided for flights to and from countries outside the Schengen Area.
A central promenade, known as the Rambla Intermodal, will connect the arrivals hall with buses, taxis, other mobility services and the planned Tren del Sur railway line. This area will also include shops, restaurants and cafés, a central food court and new VIP lounges.
Parking facilities will also undergo a major transformation. A three-storey building will be constructed on the site of the current P1 and P3 car parks. Two floors will be allocated to rental cars, providing a combined total of 1,255 spaces. A further 807 parking spaces will be available for private vehicles.
There will also be designated spaces for people with reduced mobility, charging points for electric vehicles and solar panels installed on the canopies.
Accessibility at the heart of the design
The future railway connection clearly plays an important role in the design. One level of the parking building will be linked to the planned airport station by two elevated pedestrian bridges.
This will allow passengers to walk from the arrivals hall to the station within just a few minutes, without having to cross any vehicle traffic. The connection will be designed to be accessible for people with reduced mobility, older travellers and passengers carrying luggage.
The renovation will not only change the appearance of Tenerife Sur Airport. Above all, it aims to make travelling clearer, more comfortable and more sustainable.
As construction is not expected to begin until 2027, visitors are unlikely to notice many changes for the time being. After that, however, a long-term redevelopment will begin that will fundamentally transform Tenerife’s main international gateway.
Photo: AI/ChatGPT
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