José Vicente Marí, a member of Spain's Congress who represents the Partido Popular in the Balearics, said on Saturday that the residents' travel discount was at risk due to Spanish Government "irresponsibility".
Marí insisted that the government supports a Senate motion, approved almost unanimously on Wednesday, for amendment of air transport legislation and so the release of 1.2 billion euros to pay airlines for the subsidised travel. This motion is due to be taken to Congress for approval next week.
Payments to airlines have been an issue for well over a year. Marí pointed out that 320 million euros formed a "minimum agreement" for 2024 but was "totally insufficient" for 2025. He accused the government of having failed to approve adequate budgets that have resulted in seven-figure debts and have placed the 75% discount at risk. He stressed that the discount "is not a gift, but a right that compensates for insularity".
The ALA airlines association has also called for the government (and Congress) to back the Senate motion, saying that this will guarantee air connectivity and address the "unsustainable and suffocating situation" faced by airlines operating discounted flights between the mainland and those regions to which the discount applies - the Balearics, the Canaries plus the north African autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.
The association has pointed out that airlines have to bear the cost of the subsidies, for which they are subsequently reimbursed; the issue has been the insufficient provision for this. Marí feels that unless Congress gives its approval, debts will get far greater and will "jeopardise the mobility of thousands of citizens".